Formation and Interaction of Ion-Acoustic Solitions

Abstract

The formation and propagation of ion-acoustic solitons are observed experimentally. The character of a solitary pulse is observed to follow the predictions of the Kortewegde Vries equation with respect to the shape and velocity of the soliton. The interaction between two solitons is modified significantly by dissipation. However, the nonlinear nature of the interactions is confirmed for solitons moving in the same direction. Solitons moving in the opposite direction and colliding have very little effect on each other.