Simulation studies of nonlinear magnetosonic waves in a two-ion-species plasma
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-01 (Japan)
- National Institute for Fusion Science, Nagoya 464-01 (Japan)
Magnetosonic waves propagating perpendicular to a magnetic field in a plasma containing two ion species is studied. In a two-ion-species plasma there are two kinds of magnetosonic waves; low- and high-frequency modes. First, linear dispersion relations and Korteweg--de Vries (KdV) equations for these modes are briefly described. The KdV equation for the low-frequency mode is valid when the amplitudes {epsilon} are quite small, while that for the high-frequency mode is valid when ({ital m}{sub {ital e}}/{ital m}{sub {ital i}}){sup 1/2}{much_lt}{epsilon}{much_lt}1, where {ital m}{sub {ital e}}/{ital m}{sub {ital i}} is a measure of electron-to-ion mass ratios. Then, a one-dimensional, electromagnetic simulation code based on a three-fluid model is used to study evolution of a large-amplitude low-frequency mode and a small-amplitude high-frequency mode, which the KdV theory cannot deal with. It is found that, from a profile of a large-amplitude solitary wave of the low-frequency mode, short-wavelength solitary waves of the high-frequency mode can be generated. A small-amplitude solitary wave of the high-frequency mode produces long-wavelength perturbations behind the pulse. It leads to the gradual damping of the original pulse. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.
- OSTI ID:
- 165481
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 2; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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