Wave Breaking limit in Arbitrary Mass Ratio Warm Plasmas

TL;DR

This paper derives a general wave breaking limit formula for nonlinear plasma waves in warm plasmas with arbitrary mass ratios, accounting for finite temperature effects, showing the maximum amplitude decreases with temperature and slightly increases with mass ratio.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new general wave breaking formula for warm plasmas with arbitrary mass ratios using Sagdeev potential, including temperature effects.

Findings

Maximum amplitude decreases with increasing temperature.

Maximum amplitude mildly increases with mass ratio.

Derived formula applies to non-relativistic warm plasmas.

Abstract

The maximum sustainable amplitude, so-called wave breaking limit, of a nonlinear plasma wave in arbitrary mass ratio warm plasmas is obtained in the non-relativistic regime. Using the method of Sagdeev potential a general wave breaking formula is derived by taking into account the dynamics of both the species having finite temperature. It is found, that the maximum amplitude of the plasma wave decreases monotonically with the increase in temperature and mildly increases with increase in mass ratio.