T. K. Baluku

Comment on “Mathematical and physical aspects of Kappa velocity distribution” [Phys. Plasmas 14, 110702 (2007)]

A recent paper [L.-N. Hau and W.-Z. Fu, Phys. Plasmas 14, 110702 (2007)] deals with certain mathematical and physical properties of the kappa distribution. We comment on the authors’ use of a form of distribution function that is different from the “standard” form of the kappa distribution, and hence their results, inter alia for an expansion of the distribution function and for the associated number density in an electrostatic potential, do not fully reflect the dependence on κ that would be associated with the conventional kappa distribution. We note that their definition of the kappa distribution function is also different from a modified distribution based on the notion of nonextensive entropy.

Dust acoustic solitons in plasmas with kappa-distributed electrons and/or ions

An investigation into both small and large amplitude dust acoustic solitary waves in dusty plasmas with cold negative dust grains and kappa-distributed ions and/or electrons is discussed. Existence conditions for the arbitrary amplitude case are found in an appropriate parameter space, viz., an effective Mach number of the structure speed and the fraction of the charge density that resides with the free electrons, expressed in terms of the ion density. Results indicate that the kappa distribution has only a quantitative, not a qualitative effect on the existence domains and only negative potential solitons exist regardless of whether the electrons or the ions, or both, have a kappa distribution. Despite a wide-ranging search, we have not found double layers in such a plasma. In the case of positive dust, an equivalent set of results holds.

Dust ion acoustic solitons in a plasma with kappa-distributed electrons

Dust ion acoustic solitons in an unmagnetized dusty plasma comprising cold dust particles, adiabatic fluid ions, and electrons satisfying a κ distribution are investigated using both small amplitude and arbitrary amplitude techniques. Their existence domain is discussed in the parameter space of Mach number M and electron density fraction f over a wide range of values of κ. For all κ>3/2, including the Maxwellian distribution, negative dust supports solitons of both polarities over a range in f. In that region of parameter space solitary structures of finite amplitude can be obtained even at the lowest Mach number, the acoustic speed, for all κ. These cannot be found from small amplitude theories. This surprising behavior is investigated, and it is shown that fc, the value of f at which the KdV coefficient A vanishes, plays a critical role. In the presence of positive dust, only positive potential solitons are found.

New light on ion acoustic solitary waves in a plasma with two-temperature electrons

Ion acoustic solitary waves in two-temperature electron plasmas have been studied in the past, and negative-potential solitons and double layers found, in addition to positive-potential solitons. Here, further investigations show that positive-potential double layers can form below a critical density ratio, associated with the third derivative of the Sagdeev potential evaluated at the origin for the phase velocity of the linear wave. For density ratios that support positive double layers, solitons are also reported beyond the double layers, depending on the cool-to-hot electron temperature ratio. In addition, when both polarities can be supported, solitary structures can propagate at the acoustic speed, contrary to a KdV prescription.

Dust-acoustic supersolitons in a three-species dusty plasma with kappa distributions

Supersolitons are a form of soliton characterised, inter alia, by additional local extrema superimposed on the usual bipolar electric field signature. Previous studies of supersolitons supported by three-component plasmas have dealt with ion-acoustic structures. An analogous problem is now considered, namely, dust- acoustic supersolitons in a plasma composed of fluid negative dust grains and two kappa-distributed positive ion species. Calculations illustrating some supersoliton characteristics are presented.

Solitons in dusty plasmas with positive dust grains

Although “typical” micrometer-sized dust grains in a space or laboratory plasma are often negatively charged because of collisions with the mobile electrons, there are environments in which grains may take on a positive charge. We consider a dusty plasma composed of electrons, positive ions and positive dust grains, and use the fluid dynamic paradigm to identify existence domains in parameter space for both dust-acoustic (DA) and dust-modified ion-acoustic (DIA) solitons. Only positive potential DA solitons are found. This represents an expected antisymmetry with the case of negative dust, where previously only negative solitons were reported. However, whereas for negative dust DIA solitons of either sign of potential may exist, we find that for the case of positive dust, DIA solitons are restricted to positive potentials only. The results for both positive and negative dust are consistent with an hypothesis that, in the absence of flows, the sign(s) of the soliton potential coincide(s) with the sign(s) o...

Arbitrary amplitude ion-acoustic soliton coexistence and polarity in a plasma with two ion species

Using a Sagdeev pseudopotential formalism, large ion-acoustic waves are investigated in a multispecies plasma model consisting of two cold positive ion species in the presence of nonthermal Cairns electrons. Positive solitons are limited in amplitude by infinite compression of the lighter ion species. Negative solitons become possible at a sufficient degree of electron nonthermality, and their amplitudes are limited by the occurrence of double layers. What determines coexistence is the possibility of having parameter ranges for which there are solitons at the acoustic speed, which is a necessary and sufficient condition but unfortunately not an easy criterion to check analytically. For the first time a parameter range has been found where both negative and positive polarity solutions coexist, with the solitons at the acoustic speed always having a positive polarity, contrary to earlier results which seemed to indicate that polarity switches and coexistence ranges were linked. Finally, some useful proofs a...