Auroral electrostatic solitons and supersolitons in a magnetized nonthermal plasma

Journal Article · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921740· OSTI ID:22410312

Rufai, O. R. ^[1]

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1. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, NRE, Pretoria (South Africa)

Exploiting the spacecraft measurements in the auroral region, finite amplitude nonlinear low frequency electrostatic solitons and supersolitons in a magnetized plasma consisting of cold ions fluid, Boltzmann protons, and nonthermal hot electrons are studied by applying a pseudo-potential technique. The localized solution of the nonlinear structures is obtained through the charge neutrality condition. Further numerical investigation shows the existence of supersoliton solutions at supersonic Mach numbers regime. The amplitude of ion-acoustic structures decreased with an increase in nonthermal electrons and ion density ratio. For the plasma parameters relevant to the auroral zone of the Earth's magnetosphere, the electric field amplitude of supersolitons is found to be about 9 mV/m, which is in agreement with satellite observations.

• OSTI ID: 22410312
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 22; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AMPLITUDES
AURORAL ZONES
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION DENSITY
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PLASMA
PROTONS
SOLITONS