Abstract
The dynamics of envelope solitons accompanied by density depressions (cavitons) is analyzed with the use of the driven Zakharov equations for inhomogeneous plasmas; damping effects are included. The acceleration in a spatially inhomogeneous plasma is found to be dominated by ion inertia, in contrast to the corresponding (adiabatic) Schr\"odinger predictions. The maximum speed is the ion-sound velocity. The dynamic-plasma response hinders the center of the wave packet from obeying a Newtonian force equation with the inhomogeneity acting as a force. Damping terms in the high-frequency equation introduce a new acceleration mechanism which is investigated explicitly. We analyze these effects on the basis of a moment method which starts from conservation laws. Finally, the complete set of equations, in the presence of a driver, is solved numerically. Energy transfer and relaxation oscillations are investigated.
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