Formation of Nonlinear Solitary Vortical Structures by Coupled Electrostatic Drift and Ion-Acoustic Waves

Abstract

Propagation of coupled electrostatic drift and ion-acoustic waves (DIAWs) is presented. It is shown that nonlinear solitary vortical structures can be formed by low-frequency coupled electrostatic DIAWs. Primary waves of distinct (small, intermediate and large) scales are considered. Appropriate set of 3D equations consisting of the generalized Hasegawa–Mima equation for the electrostatic potential (involving both vector and scalar nonlinearities) and the equation of motion of ions parallel to magnetic field are obtained. According to experiments of laboratory plasma mainly focused to large scale DIAWs, the possibility of self-organization of DIAWs into the nonlinear solitary vortical structures is shown analytically. Peculiarities of scalar nonlinearities in the formation of solitary vortical structures are widely discussed.