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arXiv · 0906.1096

Discontinuous distributions in thermal plasmas

D. A. Burton·A. Noble·H. Wen
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Abstract

We develop a new method for describing the dynamics of 3-dimensional thermal plasmas. Using a piecewise constant 1-particle distribution, we reduce the Vlasov equation to a generalized Lorentz force equation for a family of vector fields encoding the discontinuity. By applying this equation to longitudinal electrostatic plasma oscillations, and coupling it to Maxwell's equations, we obtain a limit on the magnitude of the electric field in relativistic thermal plasma oscillations. We derive an upper bound on the limit and discuss its applicability in a background magnetic field.

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D. A. Burton, A. Noble, H. Wen. 2009-06-05. Discontinuous distributions in thermal plasmas. https://doi.org/10.1393/ncc%2Fi2009-10332-9

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