Auroral electrostatic solitons and supersolitons in a magnetized nonthermal plasma

Abstract

Exploiting the spacecraft measurements in the auroral region, finite amplitude nonlinear low frequency electrostatic solitons and supersolitons in a magnetized plasma consisting of cold ions fluid, Boltzmann protons, and nonthermal hot electrons are studied by applying a pseudo-potential technique. The localized solution of the nonlinear structures is obtained through the charge neutrality condition. Further numerical investigation shows the existence of supersoliton solutions at supersonic Mach numbers regime. The amplitude of ion-acoustic structures decreased with an increase in nonthermal electrons and ion density ratio. For the plasma parameters relevant to the auroral zone of the Earth's magnetosphere, the electric field amplitude of supersolitons is found to be about 9 mV/m, which is in agreement with satellite observations.