LAUSR

This investigation analyzes the propagation of nonlinear ion-acoustic waves (IAWs) in an unmagnetized, collisionless plasma composed of inertial positive ions and inertialess Maxwellian positrons as well as the inertialess non-Maxwellian electrons that obey (r, q)-distribution. To observe the impact of particle trapping on the nonlinear IAWs in an electron–positron–ion plasma, the Korteweg–De Vries (KdV) and modified KdV (mKdV) equations are derived using a reductive perturbation method. In the distribution function, the spectral parameters (r, q) put up their contribution to the flatness and high-energy tails, respectively. An important aspect of this investigation is the determination of well-known quasi-periodic solutions, multi-soliton solutions, breathers, and shocks under the variation of different physical parameters, especially spectral indices (r, q). Finally, the interaction of solitons is also presented for discussion of the complete profile. In addition, a detailed comparison, especially in a periodic wave, is made between the generalized (r, q)-distribution and the limiting cases of Kappa and Maxwellian distributions. The results presented in this study contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of both high- and low-energy parts of the electron distribution function as well as the formation of periodic, soliton, multi-soliton, breathers, and shocks in space and astrophysical plasmas.