Abstract
Using analytic, nonlinear techniques the spreading of the leading edge of a pseudowave (here assumed to be a slab of ions injected at hypersonic velocity into a dense background plasma) is computed. It is found that the front spreads due to collective effects with a characteristic velocity of 3(n20/n10)1/2va, where n20 is the initial injected ion density, n10 is the background ion density, and va is the ion-acoustic velocity. The computation also predicts a finite leading edge velocity of v0+2(n20/n10)1/2va, where v0 is the initial velocity of injection. Neither shock steepening nor an accelerating leading edge as in a free expansion of plasma is found.
Published Version
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