Instability of periodic BGK waves (Q5953006)

One-dimensional electron collisionless plasma with a fixed homogeneous neutralizing ion background is considered. Its time evolution is modelled by the Vlasov-Poisson system for which \textit{I. B. Bernstein, J. M. Greene} and \textit{M. D. Kruskal} [Phys. Review, II. Ser. 108, 546-550 (1957; Zbl 0081.44904)] have showed the existence of an infinite family of exact stationary solutions, called BGK-waves. In the reviewed article the authors investigate the stability of periodic BGK-waves and prove linear unstability under some perturbation of twice the period for any such wave. They suggest a new method for finding a growing mode.