Effect of polarization force on the propagation of dust acoustic solitary waves

Abstract

We report the modifications in the propagation characteristics of dust acoustic solitary waves (DASWs) due to the polarization force acting on micron-size dust particles in a non-uniform plasma. In the small amplitude limit, we derive a K–dV-type equation and show that there is an increase in the amplitude and a reduction in the width of a solitary structure as the polarization force is enhanced for a given Mach number. For arbitrary amplitude waves we employ the Sagdeev potential method and find that the range of Mach numbers where solitary structures can exist becomes narrower in the presence of the polarization interaction. In both limits there exists a critical value of grain size beyond which the DASW cannot propagate.