REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF AN ION-ACOUSTIC SOLITON AT A STEP-LIKEINHOMOGENEITY

The propgation of an ion-acoustic soliton through a mass interface of cold ions in a plasma is investigated both for a discontinuous change and for a gradual change. It is shown that the behaviors of transmitte d waves are similar for both cases and an incident soliton may fission when it passes through the mass interface from the region of heavy io ns to that of lighter ones. It is also found that the plane of density discontinuity moves towards the propagation direction of the incident soliton after its passing.