Oblique electrostatic excitations in a magnetized plasma in the presence of excess superthermal electrons

Journal Article · Mon Mar 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3322895· OSTI ID:21347174

Sultana, S; Kourakis, I; Saini, N S ^[1]; Hellberg, M A ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Centre for Plasma Physics, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)
2. School of Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000 (South Africa)

The nonlinear propagation of ion-acoustic waves is considered in a magnetized plasma, composed of kappa distributed electrons and an inertial ion fluid. The fluid-dynamical system of equations governing the dynamics of ion-acoustic waves is reduced to a pseudoenergy-balance equation. The properties of arbitrary amplitude, obliquely propagating ion-acoustic solitary waves are thus investigated via a mechanical-motion analog (Sagdeev potential) approach. The presence of excess superthermal electrons is shown to influence the nature of magnetized ion-acoustic solitons. The influence on the soliton characteristics of relevant physical parameters such as obliqueness (the angle between soliton propagation direction and magnetic field), the electron deviation from a Maxwellian ('superthermality') and the soliton speed is investigated.

• OSTI ID: 21347174
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 17; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FERMIONS
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
LEPTONS
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
PLASMA WAVES
QUASI PARTICLES
SIMULATION
SOLITONS
WAVE PROPAGATION