Theory of Cavitons in Complex Plasmas

P. K. Shukla, B. Eliasson, and I. Sandberg
Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 075005 – Published 15 August 2003

Abstract

Nonlinear coupling between Langmuir waves with finite amplitude dispersive dust acoustic perturbations is considered. It is shown that the interaction is governed by a pair of coupled nonlinear differential equations. Numerical results reveal the formation of Langmuir envelope solitons composed of the dust density depression created by the ponderomotive force of bell-shaped Langmuir wave envelops. The associated ambipolar potential is positive. The present nonlinear theory should be able to account for the trapping of large amplitude Langmuir waves in finite amplitude dust density holes. This scenario may appear in Saturn’s dense rings, and the Cassini spacecraft should be able to observe fully nonlinear cavitons, as presented herein. Furthermore, we propose that new electron-beam plasma experiments should be conducted to verify our theoretical prediction.

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  • Received 6 February 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.075005

©2003 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

P. K. Shukla, B. Eliasson, and I. Sandberg

  • Institut für Theoretische Physik IV, Fakultät für Physik und Astronomie, Ruhr–Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 91, Iss. 7 — 15 August 2003

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