Effect of ion temperature on ion-acoustic solitary waves in a magnetized plasma in presence of superthermal electrons

Journal Article · Tue Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4776710· OSTI ID:22113344

Singh, S. V.; Devanandhan, S.; Lakhina, G. S. ^[1]; Bharuthram, R. ^[2]

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1. Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Navi Mumbai (India)
2. University of the Western Cape, Bellville (South Africa)

Obliquely propagating ion-acoustic soliatry waves are examined in a magnetized plasma composed of kappa distributed electrons and fluid ions with finite temperature. The Sagdeev potential approach is used to study the properties of finite amplitude solitary waves. Using a quasi-neutrality condition, it is possible to reduce the set of equations to a single equation (energy integral equation), which describes the evolution of ion-acoustic solitary waves in magnetized plasmas. The temperature of warm ions affects the speed, amplitude, width, and pulse duration of solitons. Both the critical and the upper Mach numbers are increased by an increase in the ion temperature. The ion-acoustic soliton amplitude increases with the increase in superthermality of electrons. For auroral plasma parameters, the model predicts the soliton speed, amplitude, width, and pulse duration, respectively, to be in the range of (28.7-31.8) km/s, (0.18-20.1) mV/m; (590-167) m, and (20.5-5.25) ms, which are in good agreement with Viking observations.

• OSTI ID: 22113344
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 20; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AMPLITUDES
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
FLUIDS
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION TEMPERATURE
IONS
MACH NUMBER
PLASMA
SOLITONS