Wave kinetics of relativistic quantum plasmas

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3590865· OSTI ID:21546931

Mendonca, J T ^[1]

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1. IPFN, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa (Portugal)

A quantum kinetic equation, valid for relativistic unmagnetized plasmas, is derived here. This equation describes the evolution of a quantum quasi-distribution, which is the Wigner function for relativistic spinless charged particles in a plasma, and it is exactly equivalent to a Klein-Gordon equation. Our quantum kinetic equation reduces to the Vlasov equation in the classical limit, where the Wigner function is replaced by a classical distribution function. An approximate form of the quantum kinetic equation is also derived, which includes first order quantum corrections. This is applied to electron plasma waves, for which a new dispersion relation is obtained. It is shown that quantum recoil effects contribute to the electron Landau damping with a third order derivative term. The case of high frequency electromagnetic waves is also considered. Its dispersion relation is shown to be insensitive to quantum recoil effects for equilibrium plasma distributions.

• OSTI ID: 21546931
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 18, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3590865; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
DISPERSION RELATIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PLASMA WAVES
EQUILIBRIUM PLASMA
KINETIC EQUATIONS
KLEIN-GORDON EQUATION
LANDAU DAMPING
QUANTUM PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
WIGNER DISTRIBUTION
DAMPING
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
FUNCTIONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATIONS
WAVE EQUATIONS