Nonlinear electrostatic shock waves in inhomogeneous plasmas with nonthermal electrons

Abstract

Density inhomogeneity driven linear and nonlinear ion drift waves are investigated in a plasma consisting of heavy ions and non-thermal electrons. The dissipation is introduced in the system by the ion-neutral collision frequency. The nonlinear Korteweg de Vries Burgers (KdVB) and Burgers like equations are derived in the small amplitude limit, and the solution is obtained using the tangent hyperbolic method. It is found that the system under consideration admits rarefactive shock structures. It is observed that the ion-neutral collision frequency, nonthermal electron population, inverse density inhomogeneity scalelength, and the ambient magnetic field affect the propagation characteristics of the drift shock waves. The present study may be applicable in regions of space where nonthermal electrons and heavy ions have been observed.