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Effect of ion drift on arbitrary-amplitude ion-acoustic solitary waves

Journal Article · · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859906· OSTI ID:5862557
;  [1]
  1. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0271 (US)
The properties of arbitrary-amplitude solitary waves in a plasma consisting of drifting ions and nondrifting electrons are investigated. The conditions for the existence of solitary-wave solutions are determined. It is shown that electron inertia has the significant effect of restricting the regime of solitary waves to ion drift velocities that are less than the electron thermal speed. Because of this restriction relativistic effects are small.
OSTI ID:
5862557
Journal Information:
Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 3:3; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English