Nonlinear electron-acoustic waves in a multi-species plasma

Abstract

Propagation of electron-acoustic waves in a strongly nonlinear magnetoplasma with two ion species is investigated. The presence of the second ion component affects the dynamics of these solitary waves in a variety of ways. Besides solitons, supersonic holes (density depressions) are produced by sufficiently large- amplitude perturbations. Heavier and hotter ions are more favourable to the holes. Applications of the present investigations to space plasmas are pointed out.