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On the existence of ion-acoustic double layers in negative-ion plasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

S. Baboolal
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, University of Durban-Westville, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
R. Bharuthram
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Durban-Westville, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
M. A. Hellberg
Affiliation:
Plasma Physics Research Institute, Department of Physics, University of Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa

Abstract

It is well known that ion-acoustic double layers occur in plasmas containing two-temperature electron species and positive ions. In a recent study Verheest suggested that such structures can occur when there is only one electron species but both negative and positive ion species. There a stationary modified Korteweg de Vries equation was derived to support his deduction. This prediction, however, contradicts our own arbitrary-amplitude studies, which also cover the Verheest parameter regime. Here we resolve the discrepancy by examining both approaches in the pseudo-potential formulation in more relevant detail. The implications of this study extend beyond the realm of the present subject.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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