Arbitrary amplitude dust ion-acoustic shock waves in a dusty plasma with positive and negative ions

Abstract

Arbitrary amplitude dust ion-acoustic shock waves in a multi-ion dusty plasma (composed of electrons, light positive ions, heavy negative ions, and stationary massive dust grains) has been studied. For this purpose, the coupled Poisson and dust-charging equations, which accounts for the fluctuation of charges on static dust, have been numerically solved. The large amplitude shocks are associated with a sudden decrease in the electrostatic potential and of the dust grain charge. It is found that in the lower speed limit small amplitude shocks are formed, while in the larger speed limit large amplitude shocks are formed. It is anticipated that the profiles and amplitudes of the DIA shocks predicted here will be observed in forthcoming laboratory and space experiments.