Nonlinear wave modulation in a quantum magnetoplasma

Abstract

Amplitude modulation of ion-acoustic waves (IAW) in a magnetized electron-ion quantum plasma is investigated. For this purpose, a three-dimensional (3D) quantum magnetohydrodynamic model is considered in the limit of small mass ratio of the charged particles. By using the standard reductive perturbation technique, a 3D nonlinear Schrödinger equation containing the magnetic field and the quantum effects is derived. The importance of quantum corrections is described through a nondimensional parameter H which is proportional to quantum diffraction effects. Some important and new modulational instability criteria of 3D IAW, quite distinct from the classical one, are obtained and analyzed.