Propagation characteristics and reflection of an ion-acoustic soliton in an inhomogeneous plasma having warm ions
Abstract
The problem of propagation of an ion-acoustic soliton and its reflection in a weakly inhomogeneous plasma is considered, taking into account the effect of finite ion temperature. A reductive perturbation analysis is carried out to obtain expressions for the local speed, amplitude and width of the soliton. The peak value of the soliton amplitude increases and the soliton width decreases with increasing ion temperature. An equation describing the dependence of the reflected-wave amplitude on ion temperature is obtained. The amplitude of the reflected wave is observed to decrease with increasing ion temperature on account of Landau damping.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Plasma Physics
- Pub Date:
- February 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S0022377800013751
- Bibcode:
- 1989JPlPh..41..185S