Magnetosonic solitons in a fermionic quantum plasma

Abstract

Starting from the governing equations for a quantum magnetoplasma including the quantum Bohm potential and electron spin- 12 effects, we show that the system of quantum magnetohydrodynamic (QMHD) equations admits rarefactive solitons due to the balance between nonlinearities and quantum diffraction and tunneling effects. It is found that the electron spin- 12 effect introduces a pressurelike term with negative sign in the QMHD equations, which modifies the shape of the solitary magnetosonic waves and makes them wider and shallower. Numerical simulations of the time-dependent system shows the development of rarefactive QMHD solitary waves that are modified by the spin effects.