Study of NonlinearWaves in Astrophysical Quantum Plasmas

Abstract

The nonlinear propagation of the electron-acoustic solitary waves (EASWs) in an unmagnetized, collisionless degenerate quantum plasma system has been investigated theoretically. Our considered model consisting of two distinct groups of electrons (one of inertial non-relativistic cold electrons and other of inertialess ultrarelativistic hot electrons) and positively charged static ions. The Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV) equation has been derived by employing the reductive perturbation method and numerically examined to identify the basic features (speed, amplitude, width, etc.) of EASWs. It is shown that only rarefactive solitary waves can propagate in such a quantum plasma system. It is found that the effect of degenerate pressure and number density of hot and cold electron fluids, and positively charged static ions, significantly modify the basic features of EASWs. It is also noted that the inertial cold electron fluid is the source of dispersion for EA waves and is responsible for the formation of solitary structures. The applications of this investigation in astrophysical compact objects (viz. non-rotating white dwarfs, neutron stars, etc.) are briefly discussed.