Formation of discontinuities in multistage evolution associated with diffusion of a multicomponent weakly ionized hot-electron plasma

A qualitative difference in the way irregularities in two-component and multicomponent plasmas decay is demonstrated. In particular, it is shown that in a multicomponent plasma with hot electrons (electron temperature much greater than the ion temperature) ion density discontinuities can develop. The discontinuities can develop in a plasma with either positive or negative ions. Diffusive evolution in the nonlinear stage can occur in several stages; the final stage can be controlled by the low ion temperature. 10 refs., 3 figs