A review of nonlinear fluid models for ion-and electron-acoustic solitons and double layers: Application to weak double layers and electrostatic solitary waves in the solar wind and the lunar wake

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 080501 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Lakhina ◽  
S. V. Singh ◽  
R. Rubia ◽  
T. Sreeraj
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solitary Waves ◽  
Double Layers ◽  
Fluid Models ◽  
Lunar Wake ◽  
Electron Acoustic ◽  
Nonlinear Fluid

scholarly journals Electrostatic Solitary Structures in Space Plasmas: Soliton Perspective

Plasma ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-731
Author(s):  
Gurbax Singh Lakhina ◽  
Satyavir Singh ◽  
Rajith Rubia ◽  
Selvaraj Devanandhan
Keyword(s):  
Phase Space ◽  
Energetic Electron ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Double Layers ◽  
Space Plasmas ◽  
Electrostatic Waves ◽  
Lunar Wake ◽  
Bgk Modes ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Electron Acoustic

Occurrence of electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) is ubiquitous in space plasmas, e.g., solar wind, Lunar wake and the planetary magnetospheres. Several theoretical models have been proposed to interpret the observed characteristics of the ESWs. These models can broadly be put into two main categories, namely, Bernstein–Green–Kruskal (BGK) modes/phase space holes models, and ion- and electron- acoustic solitons models. There has been a tendency in the space community to favor the models based on BGK modes/phase space holes. Only recently, the potential of soliton models to explain the characteristics of ESWs is being realized. The idea of this review is to present current understanding of the ion- and electron-acoustic solitons and double layers models in multi-component space plasmas. In these models, all the plasma species are considered fluids except the energetic electron component, which is governed by either a kappa distribution or a Maxwellian distribution. Further, these models consider the nonlinear electrostatic waves propagating parallel to the ambient magnetic field. The relationship between the space observations of ESWs and theoretical models is highlighted. Some specific applications of ion- and electron-acoustic solitons/double layers will be discussed by comparing the theoretical predictions with the observations of ESWs in space plasmas. It is shown that the ion- and electron-acoustic solitons/double layers models provide a plausible interpretation for the ESWs observed in space plasmas.

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