Particle-in-cell simulation of the head-on collision of large amplitude ion-acoustic solitary waves in a collisionless plasma

Abstract

The head-on collision of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a collisionless plasma with cold ions and Boltzmann electrons is studied using the particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation. It is shown that solitary waves of sufficiently large amplitudes do not retain their identity after a collision. Their amplitudes decrease and their forms change. In the collision of solitary waves, accelerated ions are formed. The ion velocities can reach three speeds of sound. Dependences of amplitudes of the potential and densities of ions and electrons after a head-on collision of identical solitary waves on their initial amplitude are presented.