First- and Second-Order Perturbations of Plasmas with Cauchy Equilibrium Distributions

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Physics of Fluids (New York)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1706763· OSTI ID:4715368

Liemohn, H. B.; Scarf, F. L.

The space-time behavior of initial density perturbations (acoustic mode) in hot plasmas is analyzed, including second-order effects, using a one- dimensional Cauchy velocity distribution of the form (v² + a²)^-2 for the equilibrium distribution. The initial density perturbation is assumed to be sinusoidal in apace and to have the same Cauchy velocity distribution. The first-order solution has an exact analytic form that gives damped oscillations at a thermally shifted plasma frequency. The nonlinear interference between the density wave and its electric field produces second harmonics in both space and time that appear in the analytic second-order solution. The harmonic structure suggests a spectral decay of the initial perturbation energy. In general, the oscillation frequency and damping decrement increase with temperature so that at sufficiently high temperatures, all forms of ordered motion are destroyed by the random thermal motion.

• Research Organization: Boeing Scientific Research Labs., Seattle
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-021160
• OSTI ID: 4715368
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids (New York), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (New York) Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 6; ISSN 0031-9171; ISSN PFLDAS
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FREQUENCY
MOTION
NUMERICALS
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
SPECTRAL SHIFT
TEMPERATURE
THERMAL DIFFUSION
VELOCITY