On the Boltzmann relation in a cold magnetized plasma

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3517174· OSTI ID:21532035

Nasi, L; Raimbault, J -L ^[1]

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1. Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas Ecole Polytechnique, Universite Paris-Sud 11, UPMC, CNRS 91128 Palaiseau Cedex (France)

A systematic and exact comparison between the forces acting on magnetized electrons in a current-free plasma is considered within a fluid model. We show that the Boltzmann relation is fulfilled in the drift-diffusion approximation when (h{sub i}/h{sub e})(1+h{sub e}{sup 2})/(1+h{sub i}{sup 2})<<1 where h{sub e} (or h{sub i}) is the ratio of the electron (or ion) cyclotron to the collision frequency. When the nonlinear inertia terms are taken into account, the previous criterion is too rough and must be modified. In particular it is proved that the Boltzmann relation is not uniformly valid in the plasma. The case of bounded plasmas where the electron temperature must be determined self-consistently is discussed in detail.

• OSTI ID: 21532035
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3517174; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
COLD PLASMA
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
CONFINEMENT
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
FERMIONS
INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
KINETIC EQUATIONS
LEPTONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
RADIATION TRANSPORT