ION-SOUND EMISSION BY LANGMUIR SOLITON PASSING BY A DENSITY BARRIER

The one-dimensional motion of a Langmuir soliton passing by the region of a density barrier is considered. It is found that the soliton is accelerated due to the plasma inhomogeneity. The accelerated soliton radiates two pulses of ion-sound waves propagated in opposite directions away from the barrier. The spatial distribution of the perturbed density in the ion-sound waves is investigated and the energy loss of the soliton, as a result of the emission, is estimated. © 1990 IOP Publishing Ltd.