Stability of ion acoustic nonlinear waves and solitons in magnetized plasmas

Abstract

Early results concerning the shape and stability of ion acoustic waves are generalized to propagation at an angle to the magnetic field lines. Each wave has a critical angle for stability. Known soliton results are recovered as special cases. A historical overview of the problem concludes the paper.

arXiv comment7 pages, 3 figures. Version 2 introduces major changes: (1) addition of a co-author, (2) change of the title for a more adequate to the present contents (previous title: 'Self-focusing of nonlinear ion acoustic waves and solitons in magnetized plasmas IV'), (3) revision of some results, (4) illustration with examples supplied with 3 figures, (5) addition of a historical overview