Modulational instability of ion-acoustic waves in a warm plasma

Abstract

Using the standard reductive perturbation technique, a nonlinear Schrodinger equation is derived to study the modulational instability of finite-amplitude ion-acoustic waves in a non-magnetized warm plasma. It is found that the inclusion of ion temperature in the equation modifies the nature of the ion-acoustic wave stability and the soliton structures. The effects of ion plasma temperature on the modulational stability and ion-acoustic wave properties are investigated in detail.