Theory of sonic-Langmuir solitons

A general, self-consitent treatment for the problem of sonic-Langmuir solitons has been presented. A method is developed to solve the coupled set of nonlinear equations which allows the system to be solved to any arbitrary degree of ion nonlinearity consistent with the nonlinearities retained in the Langmuir field and for any value of the Mach number. A new class of solutions are found for the intermediate value of the Mach number. Smooth transition from single-hump solution to the double-hump solution is shown to exist with respect to the Mach number. (orig.)