Time evolution of ion-acoustic double layers in an unmagnetized plasma

Abstract

Ion-acoustic double layers are examined in an unmagnetized, three-component plasma consisting of cold ions and two temperature electrons. Both of the electrons are considered to be Boltzmann distributed and the ions follow the usual fluid dynamical equations. Using the method of characteristics, a time-dependent solution for ion-acoustic double layers is obtained. Results of the findings may have important consequences for the real time satellite observations in the space environment.

Nonlinear structure and growth rate of solitary waves for extended Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation in plasma having (r, q) distribution electrons

“…The tendency towards rarefied regions from compressed regions is persuaded due to the thermal motions of the ions, where the slowness of the ions disables the Debye sheath from being completed. The solitary wave amplitude is independent of the total ion cyclotron frequency, this could be noticed from equations (15) and (13) where there is no sign W ci in the expression for the coefficient A. But as noticed from figure 1(e), the solitary wave width is inversely dependent on the electron cyclotron frequency (W ci ) as could be easily seen from the last-mentioned equations.…”

“…For instance, double layers have been of significant interest because they can play an important role in various plasma phenomena, such as the acceleration and heating of particles and the generation of electromagnetic waves. The behavior and properties of these double layers are still being studied and are of interest to researchers [15][16][17]. Moreover, the nonlinear periodic wave in plasmas has become important due to their applications in diverse areas of physics, such as the nonlinear transport phenomenon, the photorefractive bismuth titanate crystal, and in shallow water [18,19].…”

How important are the alpha‐proton relative drift and the electron heat flux for the proton heating of the solar wind in the inner heliosphere?

“…Weak double layers propagate at a speed on the order of the ion‐acoustic speed C s with respect to the plasma ions [ Das and Bujarbarua , ]: from the measured antisunward direction of the electric field, the propagation direction should be antisunward in the rest frame of the solar wind protons. In the reference frame of the weak double layer, ions stream into the double layer from the lower‐potential upstream plasma (from the right to the left in Figure ) and are slowed across the double layer [ Bharuthram et al , ] increasing their thermal spread (like a shock). In the reference frame of the solar wind the bulk of the protons crossing the double layer receive a very slight antisunward acceleration and (see below) about a 1 × 10 −3 eV increase in temperature.…”