Characterization of 2D Solitons in Magnetized and Unmagnetized Fluid Simulations for Debris Detection

Ion acoustic solitary waves (solitons) have been theoretically shown to be generated when charged debris traveling through space plasma, with precursor solitons travelling ahead of the debris, potentially allowing for the detection of sub-cm debris, and 1D fluid simulations have successfully modeled such precursors. In this work, a fluid model is used to simulate the generation and propagation of solitons in 2D to characterize their behavior when a second dimension is introduced. Additionally, the effect of introducing a magnetic field of varying strengths in different orientations is investigated. The results show that 2D solitons are smaller in magnitude than their 1D counterparts under unmagnetized conditions. The introduction of a magnetic field aligned with the debris motion greatly increases the soliton amplitude and causes them to be generated at a higher frequency. A magnetic field at an angle with the debris motion causes the solitons to travel at a larger angle, simultaneously decreasing their amplitude; magnetic field perpendicular to the debris motion causes no solitons to be generated. This characterization is important to determine the viability of solitons as a method of debris detection, informing the conditions of space environments where such a method can be used.