Non-linear Alfvén waves in spin-1/2 quantum plasma

Abstract

Nonlinear circularly polarized Alfvén waves are studied in Fermionic spin-1/2 quantum plasmas. Using the basic equations for Hall magnetohydrodynamics including quantum corrections, the set of Zakharov-like equations are obtained for circularly polarized nonlinear Alfvén waves. In order to investigate the properties of the Alfvén solitary structure in the presence of spin magnetization and quantum plasma beta, the Sagdeev potential approach is employed. For the case of right-handed circularly polarized Alfvén waves, the amplitude of the Sagdeev potential and the associated solitary profile is observed to enhance with the increase of quantum plasma beta and magnetization energy due to electron spin-1/2 effects. However, it is found that the amplitude of the Sagdeev potential and the related solitary profile decrease with the increasing values of quantum plasma beta and magnetization energy for the case of left-handed circularly polarized Alfvén waves. An increase in the width of the solitary structure is also observed with the increase in the value of magnetization energy for the case of the left-handed circularly polarized wave. An investigation of the modulational instability is also inspected with the effects of spin magnetization and quantum plasma beta.