Solitary density waves in the strongly coupled one component Coulomb particle structures as experimental support of the general versatility of the caustic theory

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate that generation of the solitary density wave in the strongly coupled one component Coulomb system of particles confined in a long quadrupole electrodynamic Paul trap is possible, when the energy losses due to air viscosity can be compensated by the energy contribution of the altering electric fields of the trap. Results of this paper allow to identify observed solitary waves as the caustics (according to definition of the book “Catastrophe Theory” by V. I. Arnold) and can be considered as the new experimental support of the general versatility of the caustic theory in describing different physical phenomena not only in collisionless systems of particles but also when interparticle interaction and interaction with external fields in viscous media are strong.