Creation and resonant interaction of ion-acoustic solitons

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5800260

Gabl, Jr, E F

The resonant interaction of ion-acoustic solitons, described by the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) equation, is investigated experimentally. It is found that a new soliton can be created in both two and three dimensional interactions - the latter being described by extending the KP equation to three dimensions. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. A localized or lump soliton is created utilizing the resonance phenomena. It has the same properties as a KdV soliton, namely the amplitude width-squared product is conserved and its velocity is greater than the ion-acoustic sound speed and amplitude dependent. Additionally, it is localized in the direction transverse to propagation. No interaction is observed under head-on or oblique collision. The effects of rise time, phase and amplitude of the excitation voltage on grid launched waves is also investigated. It is found that the critical parameter for soliton excitation is the excitation voltage to rise time ratio. The optimum excitation occurs when this ratio is of the order of the electron temperature divided by ion-plasma period. The excitation is ascribed to Klystron bunching within the sheath and explained using a water-bag model.

• Research Organization: Iowa Univ., Iowa City (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5800260
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640460* -- Fluid Physics-- Other Quantum Fluids
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLASMA WAVES
QUASI PARTICLES
SOLITONS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WAVE PROPAGATION