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A pair of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations for transverse and longitudinal waves has been derived. The coupling resulting from equalization of group velocities drives the Langmuir waves modulationally unstable for wavelengths shorter than (mi/me)½ λD and also extends the domain of modulational instability of electromagnetic waves when relativistic effects are taken into account. Instability is found to occur also for the perturbation wavenumber domain in which both the uncoupled Langmuir and electromagnetic waves are modulationally stable. This is shown to be caused by resonant four-wave interaction l + t → l′ + t′. The growth rate of the instability is, in general, of the order of but increases to the extent of a factor (c/vth)2 near the resonance Solitary wave solutions are given. Depending on the relative values of the self-modulation and coupling coefficients, the Langmuir or the transverse or both the waves may be localized in space.

A general form of the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation, describing the nonlinear evolution of Alfvén waves propagating parallel to the magnetic field, is derived by using two-fluid equations with electron and ion pressure tensors obtained from Braginskii [in Reviews of Plasma Physics (Consultants Bureau, New York, 1965), Vol. 1, p. 218]. This equation is a mixed version of the nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation and the DNLS, as it contains an additional cubic nonlinear term that is of the same order as the derivative of the nonlinear terms, a term containing the product of a quadratic term, and a first-order derivative. It incorporates the effects of finite beta, which is an important characteristic of space and laboratory plasmas.

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