Quantum and classical dynamics of Langmuir wave packets.

The quantum Zakharov system in three spatial dimensions and an associated Lagrangian description, as well as its basic conservation laws, are derived. In the adiabatic and semiclassical cases, the quantum Zakharov system reduces to a quantum modified vector nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation for the envelope electric field. The Lagrangian structure for the resulting vector NLS equation is used to investigate the time dependence of the Gaussian-shaped localized solutions, via the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method. The formal classical limit is considered in detail. The quantum corrections are shown to prevent the collapse of localized Langmuir envelope fields, in both two and three spatial dimensions. Moreover, the quantum terms can produce an oscillatory behavior of the width of the approximate Gaussian solutions. The variational method is shown to preserve the essential conservation laws of the quantum modified vector NLS equation. The possibility of laboratory tests in the next generation intense laser-solid plasma compression experiment is discussed.