# Classification of head-on collisions of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a plasma with cold ions and Boltzmann elecrons

## TL;DR

This study uses particle-in-cell simulations to analyze how ion-acoustic solitary waves in a plasma collide head-on, revealing that their post-collision behavior depends on initial amplitudes and classifying different collision scenarios.

## Contribution

It introduces a classification scheme for head-on collisions of ion-acoustic solitary waves based on initial amplitudes, enhancing understanding of their interaction dynamics.

## Key findings

- Solitary waves can preserve or alter their shape after collision.
- A range of initial amplitudes where waves retain identity is identified.
- A diagrammatic classification of collision scenarios is proposed.

## Abstract

Head-on collisions of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a collisionless plasma consisting of cold ions and Boltzmann electrons are studied using the particle-in-cell simulation. It is shown that the collision of solitary waves can occur under different scenarios. Solitary waves preserve or do not preserve their amplitudes and shapes after a collision, depending on their initial amplitudes. The range of initial amplitudes, at which a solitary wave preserves its identity after collisions, is established. The use of a diagram of initial amplitudes of colliding solitary waves to consider possible collision scenarios is discussed. The characteristic regions in the diagram of the initial amplitudes corresponding to different collision scenarios are determined, and a classification of head-on collisions of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a plasma is proposed.