Nonlinear structures in a steady nonuniform gas discharge

Fixed localized structures-soliton-like perturbations of the amplitude of an electromagnetic wave, and of the electron density and temperature, are considered along with their behavior and the conditions for their existence in the weakly ionized plasma of a time-independent gas discharge with a Maxwellian electron energy distribution determined by elastic collisions. It is shown that when energy transfer processes are local structures develop in which the perturbations of the plasma parameters are negative. When diffusive processes and thermal conductivity play an important part of the soliton-like structures are characterized by positive perturbations of the field and of the electron density and temperature. 5 refs