On the linear and nonlinear characteristics of electrostatic solitary waves propagating in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas

Both linear and nonlinear propagation of electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) in magnetized electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasmas are analyzed. The electrons and positrons are assumed to be dynamic, whereas positively charged ions are considered stationary. Using the reductive perturbation method, a Zakharov-Kuznetsov (ZK) equation is derived and exact soliton solutions are presented. It is found that both compressive and rarefactive ESWs can propagate. The conditions of transitions from compressive to rarefactive ESWs are specified. The nature of these electrostatic solitary waves structures which depends on the magnetic field, the obliqueness, the ion-to-electron number density ratio, and the positron-to-electron temperature ratio, are discussed.     

Multi-dimensional instability of electrostatic solitary waves in a warm multi-ion dust plasma

Study of dust ion acoustic waves in a magnetized dusty plasmas composed of negatively or positively charged static dust, positive and negative ions, as well as kappa distribution electrons is presented. The Zakharov–Kuznetsov (ZK) equation is derived via reductive perturbation technique. The solitary wave solution of ZK equation is given and the multi-dimensional instability of these solitary waves is investigated via small k perturbation method. The instability criterion and growth rate relying on obliqueness, superthermality, positive ion thermal pressure, relative ion number density, magnetic field strength, and direction cosines are discussed for five cases. The results are beneficial to understand different nonlinear characteristics of unstable electrostatic disturbances in laboratory and space plasmas.     

Nucleus-acoustic solitary waves in self-gravitating degenerate quantum plasmas

Nucleus-acoustic(NA) solitary waves(SWs) propagating in a self-gravitating degenerate quantum plasma(SDQP)system(containing non-relativistically degenerate heavy and light nuclei,and non-/ultra-relativistically degenerate electrons) have been theoretically investigated.The modified Korteweg–de Vries(m K-d V) equation has been derived for both planar and non-planar geometry by employing the reductive perturbation technique.It is shown that the NA SWs exist with positive(negative) electrostatic(self-gravitational) potential.It is also observed that the effects of non-/ultra-relativistically degenerate electron pressure,dynamics of non-relativistically light nuclei,spherical geometry,etc.significantly modify the basic features(e.g.,amplitude,width,speed,etc.) of the NA SWs.The applications of our results,which are relevant to astrophysical compact objects,like white dwarfs and neutron stars,are briefly discussed.     

Ion acoustic solitary waves with adiabatic ions in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas

Linear and nonlinear ion acoustic waves in the presence of adiabatically heated ions in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas are studied. The Sagdeev potential approach is employed to obtain the energy integral equation in such a mulitcomponent plasma using fluid theory. It is found that electron density humps are formed in the subsonic region in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas. The amplitude of electron density hump is decreased with the increase of hot ion temperature in electron-positron-ion plasmas. However, the increase in positron concentration and obliqueness of the wave increases the amplitude of nonlinear structure. The increase in positron concentration also reduces the width of the nonlinear structure in a magnetized multicomponent plasma. The numerical solutions in the form of solitary pulses are also presented for different plasma cases. The results may be applicable to astrophysical plasma situations, where magnetized electron-positron-ion plasma with hot ions can exist.     

Arbitrary amplitude solitary waves and double layers in an ultra-relativistic degenerate dense dusty plasma

Arbitrary amplitude solitary waves (SWs) and double layers (DLs) in an ultra-relativistic degenerate dense dusty plasma (containing ultra-relativistic degenerate ultra-cold electron fluid, inertial ultra-cold ion fluid, and negatively charged static dust) have been investigated by the pseudo-potential approach. It has been found that for δ=1 (where δ is the ratio of nonlinear wave speed to linear wave phase speed) extremely large amplitude DLs with negative potential exist for μ=0.537 (where μ is the ratio of dust charge density to ion charge density) and SWs with negative potential exist for 1>μ>0.537. It is also shown that for δ>1 only SWs with positive potential exist for 0?μ<0.537, but SWs with positive potential coexist with SWs or DLs with a negative potential for 0.537>μ>0.851. The implications of our results in some compact astrophysical objects, particularly, in white dwarfs and neutron stars, have been briefly discussed.     

New longitudinal waves in electron-positron-ion quantum plasmas

A general quantum dispersion equation for electron-positron(hole)-ion quantum plasmas is derived and studied for some interesting cases. In an electron-positron-ion degenerate Fermi gas, with or without the Madelung term, a new type of zero sound waves are found. Whereas in an electron-hole-ion plasmas a new longitudinal quantum waves are revealed, which have no analogies in quantum electron-ion plasmas. The excitation of these quantum waves by a low-density monoenergetic straight electron beam is examined. Furthermore, the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation for novel quantum waves is derived and the contribution of the Madelung term in the formation of the KdV solitons is discussed.     

Electron exchange-correlation effects on dispersion properties of electrostatic waves in degenerate quantum plasmas

Based on the quantum Magnetohydrodynamic (QMHD) model, the obliquely propagation of electrostatic waves in degenerate magnetized quantum plasmas with electron exchange-correlation effects are theoretically investigated. The modified linear dispersion relations of electrostatic waves are obtained and discussed in some specific cases. The analytical results clearly show that the dispersion properties of the high frequency electron waves (including the Langmuir wave and upper-hybrid wave) and the low frequency ion acoustic wave are modified by the quantum effects together with the electron exchange-correlation effects. The numerical results depict that the Langmuir wave and upper-hybrid wave can be unstable in the presence of the electron exchange-correlation effects, and it is also evidently indicated that the electron exchange-correlation effects can reduce the phase velocity of the waves, especially in the high wave number region. The corresponding results should be of relevance for identifying electrostatic fluctuations which transport in an inhomogeneous and magnetized quantum plasmas.     

Ion acoustic shock waves in a relativistic electron-positron-ion plasmas

The Korteweg-de Vries-Burger (KdVB) equation is derived for ion acoustic shock waves in a weakly relativistic electron-positron-ion plasma. Electrons, positrons are considered isothermal and ions are relativistic. The travelling wave solution has been acquired by employing the tangent hyperbolic method. The vivid display of the graphical results is presented and analyzed. It is observed that amplitude and steepness of the shock wave decrease with increase of the relativistic streaming factor, the positron concentration and they increase with the increase of the coefficient of kinematic viscosity and vice versa. It is determined that at low temperature the shock wave propagates, whereas at very high temperature the solitary wave propagates in the system. The results may have relevance in astrophysical plasmas as well as in inertial confinement fusion plasmas.     

Fusion burning waves in degenerate plasmas

The outcome of fusion burning waves in non-degenerate plasmas is limited by the strength of ion–electron Coulomb collisions and subsequent energy loss mechanisms as electron heat conduction and radiation emission. In this Letter, an analysis is presented on the degeneracy effects in the stopping power of suprathermal charged particles and in the energy transmitted from ions to electrons by Coulomb collision. Main results of this analysis is that very powerful fusion burning waves can be launched into previously compressed degenerate plasmas. This can be specially suitable for proton–boron fusion, but it also applicable to any type of fusion reaction, where ignition can be triggered by an incoming ion beam or another external source of energy deposited in a small fraction of the compressed plasma (fast ignition).     

Pressure anisotropy effects on nonlinear electrostatic excitations in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas

The propagation of linear and nonlinear electrostatic waves is investigated in a magnetized anisotropic electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasma with superthermal electrons and positrons. A two-dimensional plasma geometry is assumed. The ions are assumed to be warm and anisotropic due to an external magnetic field. The anisotropic ion pressure is defined using the double adiabatic Chew-Golberger-Low (CGL) theory. In the linear regime, two normal modes are predicted, whose characteristics are investigated parametrically, focusing on the effect of superthermality of electrons and positrons, ion pressure anisotropy, positron concentration and magnetic field strength. A Zakharov-Kuznetsov (ZK) type equation is derived for the electrostatic potential (disturbance) via a reductive perturbation method. The parametric role of superthermality, positron content, ion pressure anisotropy and magnetic field strength on the characteristics of solitary wave structures is investigated. Following Allen and Rowlands [J. Plasma Phys. 53, 63 (1995)], we have shown that the pulse soliton solution of the ZK equation is unstable to oblique perturbations, and have analytically traced the dependence of the instability growth rate on superthermality and ion pressure anisotropy.     

Nonlinear ion acoustic solitary waves in electron-positron-ion inhomogeneous plasma

A theoretical investigation has been made for studying the propagation of ion-acoustic waves (IAWs) in a weakly inhomogeneous, collisionless, unmagnetized, three-component plasmas, whose constituents are inertial ions, nonthermal electrons, and Boltzmannian positrons. Employing reductive perturbation method (RPM), the variable coefficients Korteweg-de Varies equation (KdV) is derived. At the critical ion density, the KdV equation is not suitable for describing the system. Thus, a new set of stretched coordinates is considered to derive the modified variable coefficients KdV equation. Above (below) this critical point the system supports compressive (rarefactive) solitons. The effect of plasma parameters on the soliton profile has been considered. It has been shown that the width and the amplitude of the soliton affected by wave propagation speed, ratio of positron-to-electron density, and nonthermal parameter.     

Planar and non-planar ion acoustic shock waves in electron-positron-ion plasmas

Ion acoustic shock waves (IASW's) are studied in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of electrons, positrons and adiabatically hot positive ions. This is done by deriving the Kortweg-deVries-Burger (KdVB) equation under the small amplitude perturbation expansion method. The dissipation is introduced by taking into account the kinematic viscosity among the plasma constituents. It is found that the strength of ion acoustic shock wave is maximum for spherical, intermediate for cylindrical, and minimum for planar geometry. It is observed that the positron concentration, ratio of ion to electron temperature, and the plasma kinematic viscosity significantly modifies the shock structure. Finally, it is found that the temporal evolution of the non-planar IASW's is quite different by comparison with the planar geometry. The relevance of the present study with regard to the dense astrophysical environments is also pointed out.     

Rarefactive ion-acoustic electrostatic solitary structures in nonthermal plasmas

An investigation has been made of ion-acoustic solitary waves in an unmagnetized nonthermal plasma whose constituents are an inertial ion fluid and nonthermally distributed electrons. The properties of stationary solitary structures are briefly studied by the pseudo-potential approach, which is valid for arbitrary amplitude waves, and by the reductive perturbation method which is valid for small but finite amplitude limit. The time evolution of both compressive and rarefactive solitary waves, which are found to coexist in this nonthermal plasma model, is also examined by solving numerically the full set of fluid equations. The temporal behaviour of positive (compressive) solitary waves is found to be typical, i.e., the positive initial disturbance breaks up into a series of solitary waves with the largest in front. However, the behaviour of negative (rarefactive) solitary waves is quite different. These waves appear to be unstable and produce positive solitary waves at a later time. The relevancy of this investigation to observations in the magnetosphere of density depressions is briefly pointed out. Received 12 October 1999     

Propagation of solitary waves in relativistic plasmas

By applying a reductive perturbation technique to the basic system of equations governing the plasma dynamics, a modified Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV) equation has been derived in relativistic plasma that includes cold ions and warm nonisothermal electrons. By reducing the effect of nonisothermality, the authors demonstrate the modification of the K-dV equation into different forms which show how to link the behavior of ion-acoustic waves in nonisothermal plasmas with that in isothermal plasmas     

On the filamentation instability in degenerate relativistic plasmas

The filamentation instability of the electromagnetic (EM) beam in an underdense plasma with high level of degeneracy is examined by means of the momentum equation, continuity equation and Maxwell's equations. It has been demonstrated that the instability develops for weakly as well as strongly relativistic degenerate plasma and arbitrary strong amplitude of EM beams.     

Finite-amplitude electrostatic waves im magneto-active plasmas

Summary Weakly nonlinear dispersive longitudinal waves in an infinite homogeneous collisionless plasma in the presence of an external constant and uniform magnetic field are considered. Under specific physical assumptions and for an arbitrary three-dimensional envelope modulation of a plane wave, a purely differential system is derived. Taking into account the effect of wave-wave and wave-particle interaction, the evolution of the modulation is described by a modified nonlinear Schr?dinger equation, coupled to the space perturbation charge densities. The generation of a static mode is described. As a particular case the electron waves are discussed and some special solutions, resorting to the theory of the perturbed solitions.     

Head-on collision of ion-acoustic solitary waves in an unmagnetized electron-positron-ion plasma

The head-on collision between two ion-acoustic solitary waves in an unmagnetized electron-positron-ion plasma has been investigated. By using the extended Poincaré-Lighthill-Kuo perturbation method, we obtain the KdV equation and the analytical phase shift after the head-on collision of two solitary waves in this three-component plasma. The effects of the ratio of electron temperature to positron temperature, and the ratio of the number density of positrons to that of electrons on the phase shift are studied. It is found that these parameters can significantly influence the phase shifts of the solitons. Moreover, the compressive solitary wave can propagate in this system.     

Kinetic ion-acoustic solitary waves in collisional plasmas

In this study, a bipolar high-voltage pulse with 20 ns rising time is employed to generate diffuse dielectric barrier discharge plasma using wire-plate electrode configuration in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The gas temperature of the plasma is determined by comparing the experimental and the best fitted optical emission spectra of the second positive bands of N₂(C³Π_u → B³ Π_g, 0-2) and the first negative bands of N₂ ⁺ (B² Σ_u ⁺ → X² Σ_g ⁺, 0-0). The effects of the concentration of argon and oxygen on the emission intensities of N₂ (C³Π_u → B³Π_g, 0-0, 337.1 nm), OH?(A ²Σ → X²Π, 0-0) and N₂ ⁺ (B² Σ_u ⁺ → X² Σ_g ⁺, 0-0, 391.4 nm) are investigated. It is shown that the plasma gas temperature keeps almost constant with the pulse repetition rate and pulse peak voltage increasing. The emission intensities of N₂ (C³Π_u → B³Π_g, 0-0, 337.1 nm), OH(A²Σ → X²Π, 0-0) and N₂ ⁺ (B² Σ_u ⁺ → X² Σ_g ⁺, 0-0, 391.4 nm) rise with increasing the concentration of argon, but decrease with increasing the concentration of oxygen, and the influences of oxygen concentration on the emission intensities of N₂(C³Π_u → B³Π_g, 0-0, 337.1 nm) and OH (A²Σ → X²Π, 0-0) are more greater than that on the emission intensity of N₂ ⁺ (B² Σ_u ⁺ → X² Σ_g ⁺, 0-0, 391.4 nm).     

Energy-momentum description of electrostatic waves in magnetoactive plasmas

The physical mechanism of the energy-momentum transfer governing the propagation of electrostatic waves in collisionsless plasmas is presented. Plasma is supposed to be immersed in external uniform crossed magnetic and electric field. The equilibrium plasma, determined by a stationary distribution of charged particles, is assummed to be generally anisotropic and weakly nonuniform. The changes in macroscopic quantities (in the kinetic energy of perpendicular and parallel motion, etc.) due to the self-consistent wave-particle interaction are derived. It is shown, that the corresponding dispersion equation is identical with the energy-momentum balance equations expressed in the wave frame. A new expression of the energy of waves (plasmons) is given, which ensures the energy-momentum balance equations to be mutually independent equations. This differs from the usual expression of the wave energy leading to energy-momentum balance equations which are not mutually independent.