  The nature of fore-wake excitations created by a charged object moving in a
magnetized plasma is investigated using particle-in-cell simulations. Our
studies establish for the first time the existence of precursor magneto-sonic
solitons traveling ahead of a moving charged object. The nature of these
excitations and the conditions governing their existence are delineated. We
also confirm earlier molecular dynamic and fluid simulation results related to
electrostatic precursor solitons obtained in the absence of a magnetic field.
The electromagnetic precursors could have interesting practical applications
such as in the interpretation of observed nonlinear structures during the
interaction of the solar wind with the earth and the moon and may also serve as
useful tracking signatures of charged space debris traveling in the ionosphere.
