Exact damped sinusoidal electric field of nonlinear one-dimensional Vlasov-Maxwell equations

An exact solution for a temporally damped sinusoidal electric field which obeys the nonlinear, one-dimensional Vlasov-Maxwell equations is given. The electric field is a generalization of the O'Neil model electric field for Landau damping of plasma oscillations. The electric field is a special case of the form found from the invariance of the one-dimensional Vlasov equation under infinitesimal Lie group transformations. The time dependences of the damping decrement, of the wave-number and of the angular frequency are derived. Use of a time-dependent BGK one-particle distribution function is justified for weak damping where, in general, it is necessary to carry out a numerical calculation of the invariant of which the distribution function is a functional.