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Title: Weakly relativistic quantum kinetic theory for electrostatic wave modes in magnetized plasmas

Abstract

We have derived the electrostatic dispersion relation in a magnetized plasma using a recently developed quantum kinetic model based on the Dirac equation. The model contains weakly relativistic spin effects such as Thomas precession, the polarization currents associated with the spin and the spin-orbit coupling. It turns out that for strictly electrostatic perturbations the non-relativistic spin effects vanish, and the modification of the classical dispersion relation is solely associated with the relativistic terms. Several new wave modes appear due the electron spin effects, and an example for astrophysical plasmas are given.

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, GC University Lahore, 54000 Lahore (Pakistan)
  2. Department of Physics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå (Sweden)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22251974
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 21; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ASTROPHYSICS; CURRENTS; DIRAC EQUATION; DISPERSION RELATIONS; ELECTRONS; L-S COUPLING; PERTURBATION THEORY; PLASMA WAVES; POLARIZATION; RELATIVISTIC RANGE; SPIN

Citation Formats

Hussain, Azhar, Stefan, Martin, and Brodin, Gert. Weakly relativistic quantum kinetic theory for electrostatic wave modes in magnetized plasmas. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4867490.
Hussain, Azhar, Stefan, Martin, & Brodin, Gert. Weakly relativistic quantum kinetic theory for electrostatic wave modes in magnetized plasmas. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4867490
Hussain, Azhar, Stefan, Martin, and Brodin, Gert. 2014. "Weakly relativistic quantum kinetic theory for electrostatic wave modes in magnetized plasmas". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4867490.
@article{osti_22251974,
title = {Weakly relativistic quantum kinetic theory for electrostatic wave modes in magnetized plasmas},
author = {Hussain, Azhar and Stefan, Martin and Brodin, Gert},
abstractNote = {We have derived the electrostatic dispersion relation in a magnetized plasma using a recently developed quantum kinetic model based on the Dirac equation. The model contains weakly relativistic spin effects such as Thomas precession, the polarization currents associated with the spin and the spin-orbit coupling. It turns out that for strictly electrostatic perturbations the non-relativistic spin effects vanish, and the modification of the classical dispersion relation is solely associated with the relativistic terms. Several new wave modes appear due the electron spin effects, and an example for astrophysical plasmas are given.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4867490},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22251974}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 3,
volume = 21,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}