WEAKLY NONLINEAR KINK-TYPE SOLITARY WAVES IN A FULLY RELATIVISTIC PLASMA

Abstract

: A fully and coherent relativistic fluid model derived from the covariant formulation of relativistic fluid equations is used to study small but finite amplitude solitary waves. This approach has the characteristic to be consistent with the relativistic principle and consequently leads to a more general set of equations valid for fully relativistic plasmas with arbitrary Lorentz relativistic factor. A kink-solitary wave solution is outlined. Due to electron relativistic effects, the localized structure may experience either a spreading or a compression. This latter phenomenon (compression) becomes less effective and less noticeable as the relativistic character of the ions becomes important. Our results may be relevant to cosmic relativistic double-layers and relativistic plasma structures that involve energetic plasma flows.