Collisional plasma model: a velocity-space orthogonal-function representation for the distribution function of a collisional plasma

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7350322· OSTI ID:7350322

Meier, H. K.; van Rij, W. I.; McCune, J. E.

A velocity-space orthogonal-function representation has been developed for the distribution function of a collisional plasma. The choice of functions is determined by several criteria: (1) the functions must provide an accurate representation of the Coulomb collision operator; (2) the representation must be efficient in that physical plasmas be represented by as few terms as possible in order to minimize both computer time and storage requirements; and (3) the collision and Vlasov operators must lead to simple expressions which can be rapidly and easily calculated. The collision operator in the representation used here is developed both for the nonlinear (general distribution functions) and approximately linear (approximately Maxwellian distribution functions) cases. Some numerical results are discussed. Expressions for macroscopic observables in terms of the expansion amplitudes are also given.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 7350322
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-5314; TRN: 76-015833
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
BOLTZMANN STATISTICS
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
COULOMB SCATTERING
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
EQUATIONS
INTERACTIONS
PLASMA
SCATTERING
700105* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical- (-1987)