Reflection of modified Korteweg–de Vries solitons in a negative ion plasma

Abstract

Reflection of modified Korteweg–de Vries solitons from the sheath in front of a negatively biased metal disk is experimentally investigated in a negative ion plasma. Both rarefactive and compressive solitons are reflected and the polarity of the reflected solitons is the same as that of the incident solitons. The points of reflection for the rarefactive and compressive solitons are at different locations. As the magnitude of the negative bias potential that is applied to the reflector is increased, the two reflection points move away from the reflector. An interpretation in terms of the sheath characteristics is presented.