Published August 2015 | Version v1
Journal article

Slowly moving test charge in two-electron component non-Maxwellian plasma

  • 1. National Centre for Physics (NCP), Quaid-e-Azam University Campus, Shahdra Valley Road, Islamabad 44000 (Pakistan)
  • 2. SUPA, Physics Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, Scotland (United Kingdom)

Description

Potential distributions around a slowly moving test charge are calculated by taking into account the electron-acoustic waves in an unmagnetized plasma. Considering a neutralizing background of static positive ions, the supra-thermal hot and cold electrons are described by the Vlasov equations to account for the Kappa (power-law in velocity space) and Maxwell equilibrium distributions. Fourier analysis further leads to the derivation of electrostatic potential showing the impact of supra-thermal hot electrons. The test charge moves slowly in comparison with the hot and cold electron thermal speeds and is therefore shielded by the electrons. This gives rise to a short-range Debye-Hückel potential decaying exponentially with distance and to a far field potential decaying as inverse third power of the distance from the test charge. The results are relevant for both laboratory and space plasmas, where supra-thermal hot electrons with power-law distributions have been observed

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Plasmas
Journal Volume
22
Journal Issue
8
Journal Page Range
p. 084508-084508.5
ISSN
1070-664X
CODEN
PHPAEN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
47060178
Subject category
S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY;
Descriptors DEI
BOLTZMANN STATISTICS; BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION; CATIONS; ELECTRON PLASMA WAVES; ELECTRONS; FOURIER ANALYSIS; PLASMA; POTENTIALS; VELOCITY
Descriptors DEC
CHARGED PARTICLES; DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; EQUATIONS; FERMIONS; IONS; LEPTONS; PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS; PLASMA WAVES

Optional Information

Notes
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