Nonlinear theory of the modulational instability at the ion-ion hybrid frequency and collapse of ion-ion hybrid waves in two-ion plasmas

Abstract

We study the dynamics of two-dimensional nonlinear ion-ion hybrid waves propagating perpendicular to an external magnetic field in plasmas with two ion species. We derive nonlinear equations for the envelope of electrostatic potential at the ion-ion hybrid frequency to describe the interaction of ion-ion hybrid waves with low frequency acoustic-type disturbances. The resulting nonlinear equations also take into account the contribution of second harmonics of the ion-ion hybrid frequency. A nonlinear dispersion relation is obtained and, for a number of particular cases, the modulational instability growth rates are found. By neglecting the contribution of second harmonics, the phenomenon of collapse of ion-ion hybrid waves is predicted. It is shown that taking into account the interaction with the second harmonics results in the existence of a stable two-dimensional soliton.

Accepted for publication in Physics of Plasmas