Focusing of a ring ripple on a Gaussian electromagnetic beam in a magnetoplasma

In this paper we present a theoretical investigation of the growth/propagation of a ring ripple, superposed on a Gaussian electromagnetic beam propagating along the direction of magnetic field in a magnetoplasma. The nature of propagation of the ripple is analysed in a paraxial-like approximation by radial expansion of the dielectric function, corresponding to the composite (Gaussian and ripple) electric field profile of the beam around the position of the maximum of the ripple. The two cases of collisional plasmas (with negligible thermal conduction) and collisionless plasmas (dominant ponderomotive nonlinearity) are considered. The effect of the magnetic field on the critical curves and focusing/defocusing of the ripple are studied and discussed.