K-dV and mK-dV equations for solitary waves in negative ion plasmas with non-Maxwellian electrons

Abstract

Ion-acoustic (IA) solitons in a collisionless plasma consisting of positive and negative ions and superthermal electrons are studied by using the reductive perturbation method. The basic set of fluid equations is reduced to Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV) and modified Korteweg-de Vries (mK-dV) equations. It is found that both compressive and rarefactive solitons can be propagated in this system. Also it is shown that at critical concentration of positive ions mK-dV solitons coexist. The effects of spectral index kappa, positive to negative ion density ratio and mass ratio of positive to negative ions on IA solitons structure are also discussed. © 2013 The Author(s).