Ion acoustic soliton excitation using a modulated high-frequency sinusoidal wave

Experiments on the excitation of ion acoustic solitons using a fine mesh grid in a normal two component plasma are described. The excitation is novel in that a modulated high-frequency sinusoidal wave voltage signal is applied to the grid. The carrier frequency of the high-frequency sinusoidal wave is above the ion plasma frequency. An interpretation of the velocity modulation and bunching of free streaming ions that pass through the grid to which the signal is applied is given.