Classification of head-on collisions of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a plasma consisting of cold ions and Boltzmann electrons

Abstract

Head-on collisions of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a collisionless plasma consisting of cold ions and Boltzmann electrons are studied using the particle-in-cell simulation. It is shown that the collision of solitary waves can occur under different scenarios. Solitary waves preserve or do not preserve their amplitudes and shapes after a collision, depending on their initial amplitudes. The range of initial amplitudes, at which a solitary wave preserves its identity after collisions, is established. The use of a diagram of initial amplitudes of colliding solitary waves to consider possible collision scenarios is discussed. The characteristic regions in the diagram of the initial amplitudes corresponding to different collision scenarios are determined, and a classification of head-on collisions of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a plasma is proposed.