On the envelope soliton near critical density in a plasma with cold ions and two-temperature electrons

Summary We have analysed the formation of envelope soliton near critical density in a plasma consisting of two-temperature electrons and cold ions. The non-linear Schr?dinger-like equation obtained isiφ _t +pφ _xx +q|φ|⁴φ=0 which we call the modified non-linear Schr?dinger equation. It is also observed that this approach leads to a physical situation where a linear combination of both the modified and usual NLS equations holds, in the formiφ _t +pφ _xx +q ₁|φ|²φ +q ₂|φ|⁴φ=0. It is demonstrated through graphical analysis thatq ₁,q ₂, thought of as a function of β(=T _el/T _eh), behave in opposite way. That is, whenq ₁ grows,q ₂ decays, or vice versa. Lastly we demonstrate that this equation can sustain a type of solution other than the usual solitary profile. The form of such a wave is also depicted graphically.     

Ion-acoustic solitons and double-layers in a plasma consisting of positive and negative ions with non-thermal electrons

In this research paper, the authors have studied the properties of ion-acoustic solitons and double-layers in a plasma consisting of warm positive and negative ions with different concentration of masses, charged states and non-thermal electrons using small amplitude approximation. Reductive perturbation method is used to derive KdV and m-KdV equations. Existence of ion-acoustic solitons and double-layer is explored over a wide range of parameter space. The role of non-thermal electrons characterized by finite is investigated. It is observed that for a particular value of , there is a transition from compressive to rarefactive solitons. However, when is increased beyond a critical value, no double-layers are obtained. The significance of relative ion masses is also investigated.Received: 9 July 2004, Published online: 21 September 2004PACS: 52.35.-g Waves, oscillations, and instabilities in plasmas and intense beams     

Extension of the perturbed plasma region in a low-pressure discharge near the negative probe

It is suggested to consider the region in which the electric field intensity changes its sign as a perturbed plasma region near the negative probe. It is demonstrated that the size of this perturbed region can considerably exceed the probe radius and depends not only on the probe radius but also on the dimensions of the discharge chamber. Within the framework of the considered problem, the chosen criterion is equivalent to another condition that the number of particles in the perturbed zone is equal to the number of particles striking the probe. This contradicts the approach conventionally used in the probe theory according to which particles are accelerated rather than generated in the perturbed region. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 10–12, June, 2007.     

Rogue wave triplets in an ion-beam dusty plasma with superthermal electrons and negative ions

A new dust ion-acoustic wave structure called ‘Rogue wave triplets’ is investigated in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of stationary negatively charged dust grains, charged positive and negative ions, and electrons obeying kappa distribution, which is penetrated by an ion beam. The reductive perturbation theory is used to derive the nonlinear Schrödinger equation governing the dynamics as well as the modulation of wave packets. The rogue wave triplets which are composed of three separate Peregrine breathers can be generated in the modulation instability region. It has been suggested that a laboratory experiment be performed to test the theory presented here.     

Solitons in a relativistic plasma with negative ions

The interaction of the nonlinearity and the dispersiveness causing the solitary waves is studied in a relativistic plasma with negative ions through the derivation of a nonlinear partial-differential equation known as the Korteweg-de Vries equation. The negative ions play a salient part in the existence and behavior of the solitons and could be of interest in laboratory plasmas. First, the observations are made in a nonisothermal plasma, and later the reduction to the nonisothermality of the plasma shows entirely different characteristics as compared to the solitons in the isothermal plasmas. Comparison with the various solitons is emphasized     

Generation of energetic electrons and ions by interaction of relativistic laser pulses with a supercritical plasma

Generation of hot electrons and fast ions under the action of a relativistic femtosecond laser pulse propagating through a supercritical-density plasma is studied in terms of the kinetic theory by constructing propagators for plasma particle distribution functions. Calculations are carried out for different laser pulse intensities, different sorts of multicharged ions, and different degrees of plasma inhomogeneity. Mechanisms of electron and ion acceleration in the plasma are explored.     

Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in a plasma with negative ions

A dispersion relation for low-frequency electrostatic modes in a plasma with negative ions is derived for the case in which a velocity shear Kelvin-Helmholtz instability exists in the positive ion flow along the magnetic field. It is found that the negative ions have, generally, a destabilizing effect, as seen previously for ion-acoustic and electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves. The influence of the negative-ion-to-positive-ion mass mass ratio on the stability is also examined     

Confinement of electrons and ions in a combined trap with the potential for antihydrogen production

Experiments with electrons and ions in a combined trap are reported. The unique capability to confine particles with opposite charge and very different mass simultaneously in the same spatial region makes the combined trap a promising device for future synthesis of antihydrogen.     

Stability of negative ions near the surface of a solid

Stationary states of molecular negative ions (anions) near the surface of a solid are investigated. The lone electron is assumed to interact with a diatomic molecule and the surface of the solid. The energies of electron levels are determined by solving the 2D Schrödinger equation. It is shown that its stable solutions exist at distances from the surface greater than some critical distance, otherwise the electron is detached from the anion. In the case of attraction between the electron and the solid, the interaction potential between the anion and the solid appears to have the Lennard-Jones form and the ion is separated from the surface by some equilibrium distance.     

Discharge initiation in a hollow-cathode plasma source of electrons

Experimental results on discharge initiation in a hollow-cathode plasma source of electrons are reported. The discharge is initiated by ions flowing out from the accelerating gap into the discharge region. The ions are generated by a high-voltage glowing discharge occurring in the accelerating gap at a pressure of more than 2 Pa and a voltage of no less than 2 kV. It is shown that an increase in the ion-electron emission coefficient, which can be raised by properly choosing the gas-metal pair, decreases the threshold ion current initiating the discharge at a fixed discharge voltage.     

Electrostatic double layers in a warm negative ion plasma with nonextensive electrons

The electrostatic double layer (DL) structures are studied in negative ion plasma with nonextensive electrons q-distribution. The extended Korteweg–de Vries (EKdV) equation is derived using a reductive perturbation method. It is found that both fast (compressive) and slow (rarefactive) ion acoustic (IA) DLs can propagate in such type of plasmas. The effects of various plasma physical parameters; such as nonextensivity of electrons, presence of negative ions, temperature of both positive and negative ions and different mass ratios of positive to negative ions on the formation of DL structures are discussed in detail with numerical illustrations.     

Limiting operating pressure in a plasma source of electrons with hollow-cathode discharge

Results of an experimental study of the correlation between the accelerating gap parameters in a plasma source of electrons and the limiting magnitudes of the gas pressure and the voltage applied to the gap are presented. It has been found that the electron beam increases the electrical strength of the gap.     

Observation of Peregrine solitons in a multicomponent plasma with negative ions

The experimental observation of Peregrine solitons in a multicomponent plasma with the critical concentration of negative ions is reported. A slowly amplitude modulated perturbation undergoes self-modulation and gives rise to a high amplitude localized pulse. The measured amplitude of the Peregrine soliton is 3 times the nearby carrier wave amplitude, which agrees with the theory. The numerical solution of the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation is compared with the experimental results.     

Large amplitude solitary waves in a multicomponent plasma with negative ions

When the concentration of negative ions is larger than a critical value, a small compressive pulse evolves into a subionic wave train and a large pulse develops into a solitary wave. The threshold amplitude and velocity of the solitary waves are measured and compared with predictions using the pseudopotential method.     

Ion acoustic solitons in a streaming relativistic plasma with negative ions

We analyze the effect of a nonzero streaming velocity of both positive and negative ions on the formation of solitary waves in a relativistic plasma. The thermodynamic situation is considered to be isothermal. For various values ofu _0/C andn _o/nowe obtain the variations of the amplitude and the width of the solitary wave.     

Dust-acoustic waves in a self-gravitating complex plasma with trapped electrons and nonisothermal ions

It is shown that the nonlinear equations governing the dynamics of the large amplitude waves in a self-gravitating unmagnetized collisionless dust-electron-ion plasma admit stationary dust-acoustic shock solutions. Owing to the adiabaticity of dust-charge variation, inclusion of self-gravitation, and to the departure from the so-called Botzmannian electrons and ions to the trapped electrons and nonthermal ions, the dynamics of the nonlinear wave is found to be governed by a new energy-like integral equation.     

Application of atmospheric pressure microwave plasma source for production of hydrogen via methane reforming

In this paper, results of hydrogen production via methane pyrolysis in the atmospheric pressure microwave plasma with CH₄ swirl are presented. A waveguide-based nozzleless cylinder-type microwave plasma source (MPS) was used to convert methane into hydrogen. The plasma generation was stabilized by a CH₄ swirl having a flow rate of 87.5 L min^-1. The absorbed microwave power was 1.5–5 kW. The hydrogen production rate and the corresponding energy efficiency were 866 g (H₂) h^-1 and 577 g (H₂) kWh^-1 of microwave energy absorbed by the plasma, respectively. These parameters are better than our previous results when nitrogen was used as a swirl gas and much better than those typical for other plasma methods of hydrogen production (electron beam, gliding arc, plasmatron).     

A 90° laser scattering experiment for measuring temperature and density of ions and electrons in a cold dense theta pinch plasma

In a 90° scattering experiment performed on a plasma with a density of some 10¹⁷cm^?3 and a temperature of some eV a scattering spectrum is expected which consists essentially of an intense central part and two very weak satellite peaks. In this investigation the spectrum of the central part (ion line) was resolved. From the ion line alone which was in good agreement with calculated spectra, the ion temperature, electron temperature and electron density were determined. At some plasma parameters only a few particles were included in the Debye volume. Also in these cases no deviations from calculated spectra have been observed. In addition the position and half-width of the satellites were measured. The position of the satellites yields an independent value of the electron density which agrees very well with that determined from the ion line. The half-width of the satellites was much broader than expected theoretically due to fluctuations of the electron density within the scattering volume. The measurement was performed on a theta pinch plasma. The energy of the condensor bank was 7.5 kJ, the voltage 18 kV. As a light source aQ-switch laser was used with a power of about 100 MW. Because of beam stops to prevent stray light only a fourth of the whole power reached the plasma.