Dynamics of dust ion acoustic waves in the Low Earth Orbital (LEO) plasma region

Abstract

We consider the system consisting of the plasma environment in the Low Earth Orbital (LEO) region in presence of charged space debris objects. This system is modelled for the first time as a weakly coupled dusty plasma; where the charged space debris objects are treated as weakly coupled dust particles with two dimensional space and time dependences. The dynamics of dust ion acoustic waves in the system is found to be governed by a forced Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) type model equation, where the forcing term depends on the distribution of debris objects. Accelerated planar solitary wave solutions are obtained from the forced KP equation upon transferring the frame of reference, and applying a specific non holonomic constraint condition. For a different constraint condition, the forced KP equation also admits lump wave solutions. The dynamics of accelerated lump wave solutions, which are happened to be pinned, is also explored. Approximate dust ion acoustic wave solutions for different types of localized space debris or forcing functions are analysed using different perturbation methods. Our work provides a much clearer insight of the debris dynamics in the plasma medium in the LEO region, revealing some novel results that are immensely helpful for various space missions by space agencies in the world. Different perspectives for practical applications of our theoretical results are discussed in detail.

Charged space debris induced nonlinear magnetosonic waves using inertial magnetohydrodynamics

“…Their work is performed through particle in cell (PIC) simulation. In our recent work on space debris [3], bending phenomena of electrostatic dust ion acoustic solitary waves is explained analytically; where we have derived a special exact curved solitary wave solution of the nonlinear evolution equation. However, we have not considered ambient magnetic field in the LEO region in this work.…”

“…Therefore, 1D solitary waves generated due to space debris as reported in [1,2,6] are liable to show lump like behaviours in two dimensions. In addition, there can also be possibilities of obtaining planar and ring solitons due to debris as reported in [3,7] that may be associated with special features like bending in spatial dimensions and time-dependent velocities showing accelerating behaviours. The bending phenomenon of magnetosonic solitary waves in 2D and 3D has hitherto not been investigated analytically in the context of space debris.…”

“…Considering these facts, it can be seen that there can be several types of localized functions to be chosen as forcing debris functions; which need not be exactly Gaussian, but can represent similar behaviours. In our earlier work [3], we have reported both accelerated and curved dust ion acoustic solitary wave solutions for some particular localized forcing debris functions with nonlinear evolution equation as forced KP-II equation. Therefore, for these forcing debris functions, we can get accelerated and curved magnetosonic solitary wave solutions when θ > θ c for fast waves following the same procedure as reported in [3].…”

“…In this regard, research on dynamics of space debris particles that are ubiquitous in near-Earth space has gained optimum importance during recent times. There have been many theoretical, computational and equivalent experimental investigations of space debris dynamics in near-Earth space plasma environment [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] done in recent years. The motion of charged space debris and its interaction with the surrounding plasma in ionosphere can give rise to various types of nonlinear structures such as precursors and solitons with electrostatic and electromagnetic characteristics.…”

“…The motion of charged space debris and its interaction with the surrounding plasma in ionosphere can give rise to various types of nonlinear structures such as precursors and solitons with electrostatic and electromagnetic characteristics. In the context of electrostatic excitations, the propagation of weakly nonlinear dispersive ion acoustic waves driven by space debris particles has been modelled in the form of a forced Korteweg-de Vries (fKdV) equation [1] or forced Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (fKP) equation [3,7]. For a moving charge bunch in a magnetized plasma, particle-in-cell simulations by Kumar and Sen [9] have established for the first time the existence of precursor and pinned magnetosonic solitons; which are also applicable for charged space debris motion in the ionospheric plasma.…”