Moments of the Boltzmann collision operator for Coulomb interactions
Exact moments of the Boltzmann collision operator are calculated in the irreducible Hermitian moment expansion written in terms of the random-velocity variable of each species. The formulas are presented in closed, algebraic form and can be straightforwardly implemented in computer algebra systems. They are valid for two arbitrary masses, temperatures, and flow velocities, and hence include all other existing results derived for distribution functions expanded with respect to reference states of one temperature and flow velocity. In comparison, the Landau collisional moments are good approximations for large Coulomb logarithm and small relative flow velocity, but they fail to predict the correct behavior of most collisional moments for large relative flow even for weakly coupled plasmas.
- Research Organization:
- Utah State Univ., Logan, UT (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FG02-04ER54746; SC0018146
- OSTI ID:
- 1849569
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1810190
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 28, Issue 7; ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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