Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T06:45:40.382Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Stability of an astrophysical plasma near the onset of electron runaway

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

J. S. Kaastra
Affiliation:
Sterrekundig instituut der Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, Sterrewacht ‘Sonnenborgh’, Zonnenburg 2, 3512 NL Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract

The time-dependent behaviour of a homogeneous plasma in a weak electric field near the onset of runaway of electrons is studied for astrophysical applications. The relativistic Boltzmann equation is used to calculate the particle distribution function. It is shown that the plasma is stable against electric field fluctuations in the onset region for runaway, provided that the global behaviour of the System is determined by the magnetic field structure.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Cohen, R. H. 1976 Phys. Fluids, 19, 244.Google Scholar
Connor, J. W. & Hastie, R. J. 1975 Nucl. Fusion, 15, 415.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dreicer, H. 1959 Phys. Rev. 115, 238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dreicer, H. 1960 Phys. Rev. 117, 329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gradshteyn, I. S. & Ryzhik, I. M. 1965 Table of Integrals Series and Products (4th ed.). Academic.Google Scholar
Klimontovich, Yu. L. 1967 The Statistical Theory of Non-equilibrium Processes in a Plasma. Pergamon.Google Scholar
Kruskal, M. D. & Bernstein, I. B. 1962 Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Report MATT-Q-20, p. 174.Google Scholar
Rosenbluth, M. N., MacDonald, W. M. & Judd, D. L. 1957 Phys. Rev. 107, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spitzer, L. & Härm, R. 1953 Phys. Rev. 89, 977.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiley, J. C. & Hinton, F. L. 1980 Phys. Fluids, 23, 921.CrossRefGoogle Scholar