Linear and nonlinear ion-acoustic waves in non-relativistic quantum plasmas with arbitrary degeneracy

Linear and nonlinear ion-acoustic waves are studied in a fluid model for non-relativistic, unmagnetized quantum plasma with electrons with an arbitrary degeneracy degree. The equation of state for electrons follows from a local Fermi-Dirac distribution function and apply equally well both to fully degenerate or classical, non-degenerate limits. Ions are assumed to be cold. Quantum diffraction effects through the Bohm potential are also taken into account. A general coupling parameter valid for dilute and dense plasmas is proposed. The linear dispersion relation of the ion-acoustic waves is obtained and the ion-acoustic speed is discussed for the limiting cases of extremely dense or dilute systems. In the long wavelength limit the results agree with quantum kinetic theory. Using the reductive perturbation method, the appropriate Korteweg-de Vries equation for weakly nonlinear solutions is obtained and the corresponding soliton propagation is analyzed. It is found that soliton hump and dip structures are formed depending on the value of the quantum parameter for the degenerate electrons, which affect the phase velocities in the dispersive medium

Li(e)nearity

We demonstrate the fact that linearity is a meaningful symmetry in the sense of Lie and Noether. The role played by that `linearity symmetry' in the quadrature of linear ordinary second-order differential equations is reviewed, by the use of canonical coordinates and the identification of a Wronskian-like conserved quantity as Lie invariant. The Jacobi last multiplier associated with two independent linearity symmetries is applied to derive the Caldirola-Kanai Lagrangian from symmetry principles. Then the symmetry is recognized to be also a Noether one. Finally, the study is extended to higher-order linear ordinary differential equations, derivable or not from an action principle.Comment: 16 page

Nonlinear ion-acoustic solitons in a magnetized quantum plasma with arbitrary degeneracy of electrons

Nonlinear ion-acoustic waves are analyzed in a non-relativistic magnetized quantum plasma with arbitrary degeneracy of electrons. Quantum statistics is taken into account by means of the equation of state for ideal fermions at arbitrary temperature. Quantum diffraction is described by a modified Bohm potential consistent with finite temperature quantum kinetic theory in the long wavelength limit. The dispersion relation of the obliquely propagating electrostatic waves in magnetized quantum plasma with arbitrary degeneracy of electrons is obtained. Using the reductive perturbation method, the corresponding Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation is derived, describing obliquely propagating two-dimensional ion-acoustic solitons in a magnetized quantum plasma with degenerate electrons having arbitrary electron temperature. It is found that in the dilute plasma case only electrostatic potential hump structures are possible, while in dense quantum plasma in principle both hump and dip soliton structures are obtainable, depending on the electron plasma density and its temperature. The results are validated by comparison with the quantum hydrodynamic model including electron inertia and magnetization effects. Suitable physical parameters for observations are identified