Modeling relativistic soliton interactions in overdense plasmas: A perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger equation framework

Siminos, E.; Sánchez-Arriaga, G.; Saxena, V.; Kourakis, I.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.90.063104

Journal Article

PUBDB-2015-00233

Modeling relativistic soliton interactions in overdense plasmas: A perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger equation framework

Siminos, E. (Corresponding Author) ; Sánchez-Arriaga, G. ; Saxena, V.CFEL*DESY* ; Kourakis, I.

2014
APS College Park, Md.

Physical review / E 90(6), 063104 (2014) [10.1103/PhysRevE.90.063104]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.90.063104 doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2015-00233

Abstract: We investigate the dynamics of localized solutions of the relativistic cold-fluid plasma model in the small but finite amplitude limit, for slightly overcritical plasma density. Adopting a multiple scale analysis, we derive a perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger equation that describes the evolution of the envelope of circularly polarized electromagnetic field. Retaining terms up to fifth order in the small perturbation parameter, we derive a self-consistent framework for the description of the plasma response in the presence of localized electromagnetic field. The formalism is applied to standing electromagnetic soliton interactions and the results are validated by simulations of the full cold-fluid model. To lowest order, a cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a focusing nonlinearity is recovered. Classical quasiparticle theory is used to obtain analytical estimates for the collision time and minimum distance of approach between solitons. For larger soliton amplitudes the inclusion of the fifth-order terms is essential for a qualitatively correct description of soliton interactions. The defocusing quintic nonlinearity leads to inelastic soliton collisions, while bound states of solitons do not persist under perturbations in the initial phase or amplitude.

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