Eur. Phys. J. D (2016) 70: 144
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2016-70094-8

Regular Article

Relativistic wave-breaking limit of electrostatic waves in cold electron-positron-ion plasmas

¹ Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, 700064 Kolkata, India
² Government General Degree College Singur, 712409 Hooghly, India
³ Institute for Plasma Research, Bhat, 382428 Gandhinagar, India

^a e-mail: chandan.maity1986@gmail.com

Received: 11 February 2016
Received in final form: 5 April 2016
Published online: 28 June 2016

Abstract

A one-dimensional nonlinear propagation of relativistically strong electrostatic waves in cold electron-positron-ion (EPI) plasmas has been analyzed. The motion of all the three species, namely, electron, positron, and ion has been treated to be relativistic. The maximum permissible electric field amplitude − so called “wave-breaking limit” of such an electrostatic wave before wave-breaking has been derived, showing its dependence on the relativistic Lorentz factor associated with the phase velocity of the plasma wave, on the electron/positron to ion mass ratio, and on the ratio of equilibrium ion density to equilibrium electron/positron density.