Incoherent interaction of light with electron-acoustic waves

The equations governing the interaction between incoherent light and electron-acoustic waves are presented. The modulational instability properties of the system are studied, and the effect of partially coherent light is discussed. It is shown that partial coherence of the light suppresses the modulational instability. However, short wavelength perturbations are less affected, and will therefore dominate in, e.g. pulse filamentation. The results may be of importance to space plasmas and laser-plasma systems.