Similarity theory of nonlinear cold pair-plasma dynamics

Abstract

In this article the waves and dynamics of an inhomogeneous cold magnetized electron-positron plasma are investigated using similarity methods to study particular classes of plasma wave behavior. A cold two-fluid plasma model in a cylindrical geometry (ρ,θ,z) and time t is assumed, but attention is restricted to (ρ,t) variations only. The application of similarity procedures reduces the set of partial differential equations which describe the spatial and temporal evolution of the plasma to a set of ordinary differential equations. This model has particular relevance to the description of the evolution of the electron-positron component of pulsar magnetospheres. Some typical solutions of these similarity equations are presented which characteristically have the property of blow-up phenomena.