Effects of target plasma electron-electron collisions on correlated motion of fragmented H{sub 2}{sup +} protons

Journal Article · Wed Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.73.0· OSTI ID:20778705

Barriga-Carrasco, Manuel D ^[1]

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1. E.T.S.I. Industriales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, E-13071 Ciudad Real (Spain)

The objective of the present work is to examined the effects of plasma target electron-electron collisions on H{sub 2}{sup +} protons traversing it. Specifically, the target is deuterium in a plasma state with temperature T{sub e}=10 eV and density n=10{sup 23} cm{sup -3}, and proton velocities are v{sub p}=v{sub th}, v{sub p}=2v{sub th}, and v{sub p}=3v{sub th}, where v{sub th} is the electron thermal velocity of the target plasma. Proton interactions with plasma electrons are treated by means of the dielectric formalism. The interactions among close protons through plasma electronic medium are called vicinage forces. It is checked that these forces always screen the Coulomb explosions of the two fragmented protons from the same H{sub 2}{sup +} ion decreasing their relative distance. They also align the interproton vector along the motion direction, and increase the energy loss of the two protons at early dwell times while for longer times the energy loss tends to the value of two isolated protons. Nevertheless, vicinage forces and effects are modified by the target electron collisions. These collisions enhance the calculated self-stopping and vicinage forces over the collisionless results. Regarding proton correlated motion, when these collisions are included, the interproton vector along the motion direction overaligns at slower proton velocities (v{sub p}=v{sub th}) and misaligns for faster ones (v{sub p}=2v{sub th}, v{sub p}=3v{sub th}). They also contribute to a great extend to increase the energy loss of the fragmented H{sub 2}{sup +} ion. This later effect is more significant in reducing projectile velocity.

• OSTI ID: 20778705
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 73; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DEUTERIUM
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRON-ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRONS
EXPLOSIONS
HYDROGEN IONS 2 PLUS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PROTONS
VELOCITY