ELECTROSTATIC SPATIALLY LIMITED SOLITONS IN A MAGNETIZED DUSTY PLASMA

Spatially limited ion-acoustic and dusty-acoustic solitons in a magnet ised dusty plasmas are investigated. The form and characteristic veloc ities of the solitons are studied, as well as the conditions for the e xistence of rarefactive and compressional solitons. the special case o f a plasma consisting of ions and dust grains is also considered. The work is then applied to the creation of condensates in cometary tails and to Saturn's rings, where it provides an alternative explanation fo r spoke formation. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.