Small amplitude modified electron acoustic solitary waves in semirelativistic plasmas

The properties of small-amplitude, modified-electron acoustic solitary waves in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of relativistic drifting electrons and nondrifting thermal ions are investigated. The influences of relativistic effects and ion inertia on the propagation of such waves are examined. It is found that rarefactive types of soliton solutions exist only when the electron drift velocity is less than the ion thermal velocity. copyright 1995 American Institute of Physics