Effects of nonthermal electrons and ion beams on ion-acoustic double layers in warm ion plasma

Abstract

The effects of nonthermal electrons and ion beams on the ion acoustic double layers in warm ion plasma have been studied using the pseudopotential technique. Sagdeev potential of ion-acoustic wave in the plasma has been derived and the solution of ion acoustic double layers has been obtained. The critical value of nonthermal parameter of electrons for existence of double layers is obtained and discussed. The profiles of double layers in the plasma are drawn taking different values of density and temperature of ion beams, and the nonthermal parameter of electrons obeying the critical condition. It has been shown that both compressive and rarefactive double layers are excited in the plasma depending on the values of nonthermal electrons and ion beam parameters. The width of double layers is also graphically discussed. The results are new and may be useful in understanding the acceleration processes of charged particles in space plasma.