Positron-Acoustic Shock Waves in a Degenerate Multi-Component Plasma

A theoretical investigation on the propagation of positron-acoustic shock waves (PASWs) in an unmagnetized, collisionless, dense plasma (containing non-relativistic inertial cold positrons, non-relativistic or ultra-relativistic degenerate electron and hot positron fluids and nondegenerate positively charged immobile ions) is carried out by employing the reductive perturbation method. The Burgers equation and its stationary shock wave solution are derived and numerically analyzed. It is observed that the relativistic effect (i.e., the presence of non/ultra-relativistic electrons and positrons) and the plasma particle number densities play vital roles in the propagation of PASWs. The implications of our results in space and interstellar compact objects including non-rotating white dwarfs, neutron stars, etc. are briefly discussed.