Electron-positron pair equilibrium in strongly magnetized plasmas

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5476278

Harding, A K

Steady states of thermal electron-positron pair plasmas at mildly relativistic temperatures and in strong magnetic fields are investigated. The pair density in steady-state equilibrium, where pair production balances annihilation, is found as a function of temperature, magnetic field strength and source size, by a numerical calculation which includes pair production attenuation and Compton scattering of the photons. It is found that there is a maximum pair density for each value of temperature and field strength, and also a source size above which optically thin equilibrium states do not exist. (ESA)

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (USA). Goddard Space Flight Center
• OSTI ID: 5476278
• Report Number(s): N-85-22296
• Resource Relation: Other Information: In ESA, plasma astrophys., 205-208 p., (N--85-22270 12-90)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
HOT PLASMA
PAIR PRODUCTION
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
EQUILIBRIUM
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FLUX
POSITRONS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
ANTILEPTONS
ANTIMATTER
ANTIPARTICLES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
INTERACTIONS
LEPTONS
PLASMA
700103* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Kinetics