Dynamics of localized ion-acoustic waves in a magnetized plasma

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Abstract
The evolution of negative potential pulses in a magnetized plasma is studied. A three‐dimensional (3‐D) nonlinear ion‐acoustic wave equation, including nonstationary effects of reflected electrons, has been derived from the Poisson–Vlasov equations with uniform magnetic field. In the low temperature limit, the equation is the Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation. Computer simulations of 1‐D and 2‐D versions of the equation have been performed. The studies show that a negative potential pulse can be enhanced by drifting electrons. The growing pulse develops asymmetrically with an oscillatory precursor and a local potential jump resembling the early phase of weak double layer formation. Two‐dimensional pulses also show different scale lengths along the magnetic field and in the transverse dimension. Comparisons are made with results from particle simulations and spacecraft observations.

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