Non-resonant interacting ion acoustic waves in a magnetized plasma

Abstract

We perform an analytical and numerical investigation of the interaction among non-resonant ion acoustic waves in a magnetized plasma. Waves are supposed to be non-resonant, i.e. with different group velocities that are not close to each other. We use an asymptotic perturbation method, based on Fourier expansion and spatio-temporal rescaling. We show that the amplitude slow modulation of Fourier modes cannot be described by the usual nonlinear Schrodinger equation but by a new model system of nonlinear evolution equations. This system is C-integrable, i.e. it can be linearized through an appropriate transformation of the dependent and independent variables. We demonstrate that a subclass of solutions gives rise to envelope solitons. Each envelope soliton propagates with its own group velocity. During a collision solitons maintain their shape, the only change being a phase shift. Numerical results are used to check the validity of the asymptotic perturbation method.