Analysis of Electric Currents in the Vicinity of Ion-Acoustic Rarefaction Solitons in Three-Component Plasma

A one-dimensional hydrodynamic model is used to study electric currents induced by ion-acoustic rarefaction solitons in a three-component plasma. Using the Sagdeev pseudopotential method, the profiles of soliton currents were calculated. The parameters of compressive solitons and rarefactive solitons were compared. It is shown that rarefactive solitons, in contrast to compressive solitons, have ion current profiles of negative polarity. Consequently, they can transfer charged particles in the direction opposite to their direction of motion. It is shown that ion transport cannot be neglected for rarefactive solitons of any amplitude, including infinitely small ones; thus, the transport of charged particles is an inherent (fundamental) property of rarefaction solitons.