On the linear and nonlinear characteristics of electrostatic solitary waves propagating in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas

Both linear and nonlinear propagation of electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) in magnetized electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasmas are analyzed. The electrons and positrons are assumed to be dynamic, whereas positively charged ions are considered stationary. Using the reductive perturbation method, a Zakharov-Kuznetsov (ZK) equation is derived and exact soliton solutions are presented. It is found that both compressive and rarefactive ESWs can propagate. The conditions of transitions from compressive to rarefactive ESWs are specified. The nature of these electrostatic solitary waves structures which depends on the magnetic field, the obliqueness, the ion-to-electron number density ratio, and the positron-to-electron temperature ratio, are discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.