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Observation of modulational instability in a multi-component plasma with negative ions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

H. Bailung†
Affiliation:
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229, Japan
Y. Nakamura
Affiliation:
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229, Japan

Extract

The nonlinear evolution of ion-acoustic waves in a multi-component plasma with negative ions has been studied experimentally using a double-plasma device. At a critical concentration of negative ions the phase velocity of the ion- acoustic waves increases with the wave amplitude, and the wave has negative dispersion, which show that the wave satisfies Lighthill's condition. The initial small modulation in amplitude is found to grow spatially. The observed phenomena are compared with the relevant theory using the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The fluid equations are integrated to confirm the validity of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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