Relativistic Plasmas: January 24, 2011 15:2 9in X 6in Introduction To Relativistic Statistical Mechanics - . - b1039-ch03

January 24, 2011 15:2 9in x 6in Introduction to Relativistic Statistical Mechanics . . .
b1039-ch03 FA
Chapter 3
Relativistic Plasmas
Relativistic plasmas are objects encountered in many astrophysical situa-
tions. For instance, they occur in the magnetosphere of pulsars where they
are strongly magnetized, or in quasar jets. In the case of white dwarfs, the
electron plasma is both relativistic and degenerate and could possibly be
magnetized. The rst relativistic Vlasov equation an equation used to
describe the collective behavior of plasma was given by S. Titeica (1956)
and by numerous other authors; let us, however, mention V.N. Tsytovich
(1961) and A.G. Sitenko.
1
In this chapter the electromagnetic excitations
dispersion relations are mainly studied after some general and simple
relations are provided as to various data about electromagnetism. Also, we
are concerned only with the classical plasmas here; the quantum ones are
dealt with in Chap. 15.
3.1. Electromagnetic Quantities in Covariant Form
Let us rst look at the conductivity tensor, which relates the electromag-
netic eld F
and the four-current J
through
J
(k) =
(k)F
(k), (3.1)
where use has been made of Fourier transforms. Owing to the conserved
character of the four-current, k
= 0, whatever the electromagnetic eld,

the conductivity tensor must obey
k
(k) = 0. (3.2)
1
A.G. Sitenko, Electromagnetic Fluctuations in Plasmas (Academic Press, New York,
1967).
47

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
January 24, 2011 15:2 9in x 6in Introduction to Relativistic Statistical Mechanics . . . b1039-ch03 FA
48 Introduction to Relativistic Statistical Mechanics: Classical and Quantum
This tensor is antisymmetrical with respect to the indices (, ) and thus
possesses a priori 24 6 = 18 independent components. When the only
macroscopic four-vector present in the system is the average four-velocity
u
, it has the general form
(k) = [a(k)u
+b(k)k
](k
)
+[c(k)u
(
+d(k)k
(
]
)
, (3.3)
where the various coecients are connected through the relation
a(k)k u +b(k)k
2
= c(k), (3.4)
which expresses the four-current conservation constraint.
The next important quantity is the polarization tensor, dened by
J
(k) =
(k)A
(k), (3.5)
where A
(k) is the total electromagnetic eld:

_
_
A
(k) = A
int
(k) +A
ext
(k),
A
int
(k): internal eld of the system,
A
ext
(k): external (applied) eld.
(3.6)
The following relation connects it to the conductivity tensor,
(k) = 2k
(k), (3.7)
and obeys
k
(k) = k
(k) = 0, (3.8)
which insures the gauge invariance of the denition; indeed, when one is
performing a gauge transformation on A
(k),
_
A
(k) A
(k) ik
(k),
k
2
(k) = 0,
(3.9)
the relation J
(k) =
(k)A
(k) remains invariant.

As a consequence of Maxwells equations,
_
(x) = 4J
(x),
(x) = 0,
(3.10)
the equations obeyed by the four-potential A
(k) are then written as

2
[k
2
]A
(k) = 4J
(k) = 4[J
ext
(k) +J
int
(k)], (3.11)
2
For similar considerations, see e.g. D.B. Melrose (1973).

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
Relativistic Plasmas 49
where J
int
(k) generates the internal eld while J
ext
(k) is responsible for the
external one. Accordingly, one has
{[k
2
] + 4
(k)}A
(k) = 4J
ext
(k). (3.12)
When one switches o the external eld, the internal eld can oscillate
according to
{[k
2
] + 4
(k)}A
(k) = 0, (3.13)
which implies the relation
Det{[k
2
] + 4
(k)} = 0. (3.14)
However, such a relation provides the proper modes of oscillation of the
plasma only after a gauge condition has been chosen and when one is
working in the three-space allowed by the rank 3 character of the above
4 4 matrix.
The gauge invariance of the nal result can be checked by choosing a
gauge-xing parameter (see Chap. 7), so that the above equation reads
Det{[k
2
(1 )k
] + 4
(k)} = 0; (3.15)
the choice of corresponds to dierent possible gauges for instance,
= 1 implies the use of the Feynman gauge. The gauge invariance of the
dispersion relation is then expressed by its independence from the gauge-
xing parameter. Actually, in the nonquantum case, the question of the
gauge invariance is almost irrelevant, essentially because they can also be
derived directly from the elds.
Some deeper insight into the plasma modes can be obtained after the
polarization tensor
(k) has been decomposed on the two orthogonal

projectors
_
_
P
(k) =
(u) +
(k
k u u
)(k
k u u
(u)k
,
Q
(k) =
(k
2
u
k u k
)(k
2
u
k u k
)
k
2
(u)k
,
(3.16)
as
(k) =
T
(k)P
(k) +
L
(k)Q
(k). (3.17)
Note the completeness relation of these projectors,
(k) = P
(k) +Q
(k), (3.18)
whose meaning is that they span the three-space orthogonal to the four-
vector k
.

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
Let us now come back to the above dispersion condition. For a polar-
ization vector e
(k),
_
_
e
T
= P
,
e
L
= Q
,
e
=
k
k
2
,
(3.19)
the dispersion relation is split into
_
_
[k
2
T
(k)]e
T
(k) = 0,
[k
2
L
(k)]e
L
(k) = 0,
k
2
k
(k) = 0
(3.20)
for the transverse (twice-degenerated) and longitudinal polarization four-
vectors. The third one corresponds to a gauge degree of freedom, which
is not physical. The transverse modes are related to the propagation of
photons in a dispersive medium, while the longitudinal one is the plasmon
mode.
3.2. The Static Conductivity Tensor
Let us consider a neutral plasma in thermal equilibrium and let us apply
a constant external eld, F
ext
. We want to evaluate the eects of collisions
on the electrical conductivity or, more specically, the conductivity tensor
has to be calculated. To this end, it is still assumed that the collisions of
the electrons with either the ions, the other electrons or possible plasmons
are described adequately by the relativistic BGK equation written as
p f(x, p) +ep
ext
f(x, p) = p u
f(x, p) f
eq
(p)
. (3.21)
The linear response to the external eld F
ext
is a four-current J
1
(x),
given by
J
1
(x) =
_
d
4
p
p
m
f
1
(x, p), (3.22)
where f
1
(x, p) is given by
f
1
(x, p)

p u
_
p +ep
ext
_
f
eq
(p)
=

p u
ep
ext
f
eq
(p). (3.23)

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
The four-current J
1
is thus
J
1
= eF
ext
_
d
4
p
p
p u
f
eq
(p), (3.24)
so that the static conductivity tensor is given by
= e
_
d
4
pf
eq
(p)

p
_
p
p u
_
(3.25)
and hence the static conductivity tensor is obtained.
3.3. DebyeH uckel Law
The general form of the relativistic DebyeH uckel law can be obtained from
the expression of the conductivity tensor (see below) or, more simply, by
looking at the four-potential experienced by an extra particle embedded at
rest in a plasma. Let us now look at this simple approach [R. Hakim (1967);
S.R. de Groot, W.A. van Leuwen and Ch. G. van Weert (1980)].
Let A
be the four-potential to which is subjected a test particle whose

charge is Q, at rest within the plasma, and let J
plasma
(x) be the plasma
four-current. A
(x) obeys Maxwells equations written in the form

A
(x) = 4[J
plasma
(x) +J
test
(x)] (3.26)
with the Lorentz condition
(x) = 0, (3.27)
and where
_
_
J
test
(x) = Q
_
+
d u
(4)
(x u),
J
plasma
(x) = e
__
dp p
f
electrons
(x, p)
_
dp p
f
ions
(x, p)
_
.
(3.28)
In these last equations u
is the average four-velocity both of the plasma

and of the test particle (remember that the latter is at rest with respect to
the plasma). In the last equation, one has
f
ions
electrons
(x, p) = exp[ (p eA)], (3.29)
which is the J uttnerSynge equilibrium function in the presence of the
electromagnetic eld brought by the perturbation constituted by the test
particle. The plasma proper charge density is then (see Chap. 1)
n
plasma
= en{exp(e A) exp(e A)} 2e
2
n
(x) (3.30)

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
with |eu A|
2
|eu A|, while the plasma four-current is n
plasma
u
. It
follows that the equation for A
reduces to
A
(x) + 8ne
2
u Au
= 4J
test
(x), (3.31)
whose Fourier transform is
{k
2
+ (8ne
2
)u
}A
(k) = 4J
test
(k). (3.32)
This algebraic equation can easily be solved as
3
A
(k) =
1
k
2
4J
test
(k) +
8ne
2
k
2
u
8ne
2
k
2
4J
test
(k). (3.33)
The rst term on the right hand side of this relation is obviously the con-
tribution of the test particle, while the second one represents the screening
of the test charge by the electron of the plasma. In the extreme relativistic
limit, 0, the eld experienced by the test particle is not screened;
no screening is possible since the electrons and the ions suer a violent
thermal agitation. In the opposite case, (or T tends to zero), the
above formula yields
A
(k)
1
k
2
(u)J
test
(k) = 0, (3.34)
since J
test
(k) u
. Finally, in a reference frame where u
= (1, 0), A
0
obeys the equation
A
0
(x) + 8ne
2
A
0
(x) = 4J
0
test
, (3.35)
which in the static limit is the well-known equation
V (x) 8ne
2
V (x) = 4n
test
, (3.36)
whose solution is the usual DebyeH uckel law.
3.4. Derivation of the Plasma Modes
In this section, the covariant Vlasov equation is given and the dispersion
equation obeyed by the collective modes of an electron plasma embedded in
a positively charged neutralizing background is briey derived. The latter
equation is nothing but the Liouville equation for electrons subjected to
3
The reference R. Hakim (1967) contains some misprints and the correct expression is
the one given here.

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
the average electromagnetic eld of the plasma coupled to the Maxwells
equations, or
_
p
+ep
(x)

p
_
f(x, p) = 0, (3.37)
_
(x) = 4J
(x),
(x) = 0,
(3.38)
where J
(x) is the four-current that generates the electromagnetic eld

F
(x):
J
(x) = e
_
d
4
p
p
m
f(x, p). (3.39)
The dispersion relations obeyed by the normal modes of the plasma are
derived as usual by looking at the propagation of small electron perturba-
tions within the plasma while retaining rst order eects only:
_
f(x, p) = f
eq
(p) +f
(1)
(x, p),
F
(x) = F
(eq)
(x) +F
(1)
(x),
(3.40)
with F
(eq)
(x) 0, since the plasma is neutral i.e. J
(eq)
0 and
[f
(1)
(x, p)]
2
f
(1)
(x, p). (3.41)
The equation for the o-equilibrium quantities, indexed by 1, is thus
J
(1)
(x) = e
_
d
4
p
p
m
f
(1)
(x, p), (3.42)
(1)
(x) = 4J
(1)
(x), (3.43)
ep
(1)
(x)

p
f
eq
(p) = p f
(1)
(x, p). (3.44)
The last equation the linearized Vlasov equation after performing a
Fourier transform and using the denition of J
(k) yields
J
(k) =
_
d
4
p p
f
(1)
(k, p) = eF
(1)
(k)
_
d
4
p
p
k p i
f
eq
(p)
= ie
_
k
(1)
k
(1)
_
_
d
4
p
p
k p i
f
eq
(p). (3.45)
Then, Maxwells equations written in the form
k
2
A
(1)
(k) = 4J
(1)
(k), (3.46)
together with the Lorentz gauge condition
k
(1)
(k) = 0, (3.47)

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
yield the following homogeneous system for A
(1)
(k):
_
k
2
+ 4ie
2
(k
)
_
d
4
p
p
k p i
f
eq
(p)
_
A
(k) = 0.
(3.48)
It possesses solutions only when its determinant vanishes, i.e. when
Det
_
_
1
k
k
2
_
+
2
P
I
+
2
P
k
k
2
_
= 0, (3.49)
and, of course, the gauge condition
= 0.
In this expression the various integrals I are dened by
_
_
I
=
m
4K
2
(m)
_
d
4
exp(m
),
I
=
m
4K
2
(m)
_
d
4
(k
)
2
exp(m
),
(3.50)
while the plasma frequency is denoted, as usual, by
2
P
=
4ne
2
m
. (3.51)
In the local frame of reference of the plasma, i.e. the one where u
= (1, 0),
and choosing the third axis as the direction of propagation of the plasma
waves,
k
= (k
0
, 0, 0, k
3
) (, 0, 0, k), (3.52)
the above determinant is split into the two equations
_
1
1
k
2
P
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)
_
+
2
P
I
1
1
= 0 (for transverse modes)
__
1
1
k
2
P
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)
_
+
2
P
I
0
0
+

2
P
I
0
_
__
1
1
k
2
P
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)
_
+
2
P
I
3
3
+

2
P
k
k
I
3
_
=
4
P
_
k
k
I
0
+I
3
0
_
_
I
3
0
+
I
3
k
_
(for longitudinal modes).
(3.53)

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
This equation for the longitudinal modes can also be cast into the form
2
P
+k
2
2
k
2
= 2I
0
2
P
2
k
2
+
2
P
I
0
, (3.54)
where we have set
2
P
=
2
P
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)
, (3.55)
which will appear as an eective relativistic plasma frequency. For trans-
verse modes, we have also
_
1

2
P
2
k
2
_
+
2
P
I
1
1
= 0. (3.56)
The various properties of the Kelvin functions indicate that
2
P
is an
increasing function of the parameter m, which vanishes for m = 0 and
tends, as expected, toward the ordinary plasma frequency
2
P
for m .
Finally, let us note that these dispersion relations do not agree with
those obtained by other authors. For instance, they do not agree with B.
Kursunoglus (1961) results since this author uses an incorrect equilibrium
distribution function because of a confusion in his notation. As to the results
of F. Santini and G. Szamosi (1965) or of K.-K. Tam (1968), they are dif-
ferent from ours because of an incorrect normalization of their distribution
function.
3.4.1. Evaluation of the various integrals
In this section the various integrals appearing in the above dispersion rela-
tions are briey evaluated.
4
First, notice that the relation
k
= I
(3.57)
reduces the calculation to that of I
only. This integral is a function of ,

k k and k u. It has the general form
I
= c
1
+c
2
k
, (3.58)
since
and k
are the only four-vectors in the theory. Multiplying now

this expression of I
by
and by k
successively, one gets a linear system

for c
1
and c
2
, whose solution is
c
1
=
k k k
(k k)( ) (k )
2
, (3.59)
c
1
=
k
(k k)( ) (k )
2
, (3.60)
4
For more details, see R. Hakim and A. Mangeney (1968).

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
where the following notations have been used:
_
_
k
=
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)
,

.
(3.61)
It remains for one to calculate the invariant , and one nds that
Im =

2k
K
2
(m)
exp
_
m
_
1 (/k)
2
_
_
1
m
+
1
_
1 (/k)
2
_
(for coth k), (3.62)
Re =
m
2
k
2
K
2
(m)

d
d(m)
_
1
m
_
+
0
d
exp(mch)
((/k)
2
1) cosh
2
+ 1
_
. (3.63)
Details can be found elsewhere (see Ref. 3).
3.4.2. Collective modes in extreme cases
In this subsection, two limiting cases are examined; the zero temperature
limit and the innite temperature case.
(1) At absolute zero, the J uttnerSynge equilibrium distribution becomes
f
eq
(p) = nm
(4)
(p mu) (3.64)
and the various integrals reduce to
_
_
I
=
u
k u
,
I
=
u
(k u)
2
,
(3.65)
so that the dispersion relations for the transverse modes read
k k =
2
P
(3.66)
or
2
= k
2
+
2
P
, (3.67)

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
which is the usual result, in the local reference frame and for waves prop-
agating along the third axis. For longitudinal oscillations, we obtain
_
2
1
=
2
P
,
2
2
= k
2
+
2
P
.
(3.68)
While the rst solution is the ordinary one, the second seems to be due
to gauge properties modes and it disappears at the Newtonian limit.
(2) Let us now investigate briey the extreme relativistic case (innite tem-
perature, or m 0). In this extreme relativistic limit, the dispersion
relations reduce to k
2
= 0 and the medium becomes transparent for
plasma waves. However, as we shall show in Chap. 5, such waves are
strongly damped by the emission of radiation.
The plasma modes have been studied elsewhere [R. Hakim and A. Man-
geney (1971)] and the main results will only be outlined here. There
are two most interesting cases. First, for transverse waves, it is the case
of supraluminous waves, i.e. waves having a phase velocity greater than
the speed of light in a vacuum. Second, for longitudinal waves, two
cases are of particular interest, supraluminous waves and suprathermal
waves. We shall limit ourselves to these two cases.
3.5. Brief Discussion of the Plasma Modes
Supraluminous transverse waves. From the above dispersion relation for
transverse waves and the evaluation of the integral I
1
1
at order 2 in the
parameter k/, one nds that
4
[k
2
+
2
P

2
P
1
(m)]
2
+k
2
2
P
[
2
(m)
1
(m)] = 0, (3.69)
where
1
and
2
are the following functions [R. Hakim and A. Mangeney
(1971)]:
(x) =
x
K
2
(x)
1
2 + 1
_

0
d(tanh )
2+1
cosh
2
exp(xcosh). (3.70)
The dispersion relation for transverse waves is now solved by iteration and
the resulting equation has always a (physical) positive and a (unphysical)
negative solution.
5
For k
2
very small, one nds that
2
0

2
P

2
P
1
(m)
2
P
[
0
(m)
1
(m)], (3.71)
5
This is a consequence of the fact that
1
2
> 0, as can easily be checked.

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
whereas, in the same case (small values of k
2
), the classical case is such that
2
0

2
P
. Therefore, one of the relativistic eects consists in a shift of the
plasma frequency. This frequency shift can be evaluated via an asymptotic
expansion of
i
, and one obtains
2
0
(k
2
0)
2
P
_
1
5
2m
_
(3.72)
so that
2
0
2
0
5
2m
, (3.73)
and a shift of 10% could be expected in plasmas whose temperatures are
of the order of a few hundred thousand degrees.
Supraluminous longitudinal waves. First, the dispersion relation is
rewritten as
2
P
+k
2
=
_

=0
_
k
_
2
(m)
_
2
P
_
1
k
2
2
_
=0
_
k
_
2
(2 + 1)
(m)
_
, (3.74)
where the real part of the integral I
0
has been expanded in powers of the
inverse phase velocity. At order 2 a straightforward calculation provides
2
0
=
_
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)

1
(m)
_
2
P
+ 3k
2
1
(m)
2
(m)
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)

1
(m)
, (3.75)
and, as in the case of transverse waves, the plasma frequency is shifted from
its nonrelativistic value. Using the asymptotic expansions of the various
functions Ks and s, this dispersion relations yields the usual nonrela-
tivistic relation:
2
0
=
2
P
+ 3
k
B
T
m
k
2
. (3.76)
The rst relativistic correction turns out to be
2
0
=
2
P
+ 3
k
B
T
m
k
2
5
2
2
P
k
B
T
mc
2

33
2
_
k
B
T
mc
2
_
2
k
2
c
2
, (3.77)
where the factors c have been re-established and which is nothing but an
expansion in powers of the (usual) thermal velocity over c
2
. A deviation of
10% of the coecient of k
2
occurs at relatively moderate temperatures, of
the order of 10
8
K.

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
Suprathermal longitudinal waves. While in the case of supraluminous phase
velocities there is no possible resonance between plasma waves and elec-
trons, such an eect is possible for suprathermal velocities, inferior to that
of light, i.e. when
v
thermal
<

k
< 1. (3.78)
Accordingly, the small parameter
_
2
=
1
2
k
2
(m)
2
,
< k,
(3.79)
is introduced and we restrict ourselves to those s (or those s) such that
2
1. It follows that if is to be considered as a given quantity, k should
satisfy the condition
6
k
2
<

2
1
2
, < 1. (3.80)
Note that the term cosh, which occurs in the exponential of the various
integrals of the dispersion relations is at most of order (m)
1
and hence the
velocity of a typical electron, namely tanh, is at most of order 1 (m)
2
.
It follows that
2
< 1 represents v
thermal
< /k. At order 1 in the small
parameter
2
, the dispersion relation for transverse waves turns out to be
2
k
2
=

2
P
k
2
k
2
+
2
P
+
2
P
_
1
m
2
K
1
(m
K
2
(m)
_
. (3.81)
The right hand side of this equation may be shown to be always positive,
so that
2
/k
2
> 0, which is not compatible with our assumption < k.
Therefore, as in the nonrelativistic case, there is no propagation
7
of infra-
luminous transverse waves
8
and we concentrate on the longitudinal case.
We rst neglect the damping term, since its weakness is expected and is
evaluated at the end of the calculation. The dispersion equation then reads
2
P
+k
2
= 2
2
P
I
0
+
2
P
(
2
k
2
)

I
0
. (3.82)
6
When > 1, we always have
2
< 1 since /k < 1.
7
This result is also valid at order 2 in
2
.
8
See e.g. S. Ichimaru, Basic Principles of Plasma Physics (Benjamin, Reading, 1973).

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
In order to obtain an explicit relation valid at order 1 in the expansion
parameter
2
, we set
Re I
0
=
A
+
B

2
+O(
4
), (3.83)
where A and B are functions of m. The expansion of I
0
and various
recursion relations between the Kelvin functions provide
_
_
A(m) =
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)
_
1
2
(m)
2
_
+
1
m
,
B(m) = 3
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)
m.
(3.84)
Using the fact that
2
k
2
=
2
2
(m)
2
+O(
4
), (3.85)
the dispersion relation can be cast into the form
2
= [2
2
P
A(m)
2
P
] +
2
[2
2
P
B(m) +
2
P
(m)
2
2
P
(m)
2
A(m)],
(3.86)
which itself leads to
2
=
2
P
_
A(m) +
B(m)
(m)
2
_
1
k
2
(2
2
P
A(m)
2
P
)
2
P

2
P
A(m) +
2
2
P
B(m)
(m)
2
_
. (3.87)
This last equation is obtained from the preceding one by replacing
2
(, k)
with its value for =
0
, where
0
is evaluated at order 0 in
2

0
is
given by
2
0
= 2
2
P
A(m)
2
P
; (3.88)
it is a wave propagating at velocity c since, in this approximation,
2
= 0
and hence = k.
The dispersion curves are most easily plotted with the dimensionless
variables
_
y =
2
2
P
,
x = k
2
2
P
,
(3.89)
and are depicted in Fig. 3.1. They must, of course, be suprathermal and
infraluminous, two properties expressed by
_
y < x,
yx
1
> 1 (m)
2
,
(3.90)

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
Fig. 3.1 Typical dispersion curves for longitudinal suprathermal waves [after R. Hakim
and A. Mangeney, Phys. Fluids 14, 2751 (1971)].
and m < 1. Three typical dispersion curves have been plotted with quali-
tatively dierent behavior according to the sign of x
1
.
Dierent behaviors. These dierences occur according to the sign of the
coecient of x
1
. The dispersion curves show that the phase and group
velocities for waves such as m >
0
m have opposite directions, while they
have the same direction in the opposite case. For =
0
, only stationary
waves are possible;
0
is a solution of
K
1
(m)
K
2
(m)
=
3m
8
(3.91)
and is found to be of order 1.
Let us now turn to the nonrelativistic approximation of the dis-
persion equation. As already indicated, this approximation is obtained
for m . However, the expansions in
2
2
used in the derivation of
the approximate dispersion relation are convergent only when
2
2
< 1.
Therefore, as m increases,
2
must go to zero in such a way that this con-
dition is satised. It follows that the nonrelativistic approximation is valid
only in a small neighborhood of
k
2
=
2
P
_
1 +O
_
1
(m)
2
__
. (3.92)
In this neighborhood, the dispersion equation is equivalent to the classical
dispersion relation and the rst relativistic corrections are exactly the same
as those already obtained above.

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
Let us now evaluate the damping decrement and let us still assume
that
0
, so that
2

2
0
+ 2i
0
. (3.93)
Inserting this relation into the dispersion equation and using
I
0
( +i) I
0
() + i

I
0
=
0
, (3.94)
we nd that
=

4
m
K
2
(m)
2
0
2
P
k
2
1
2
(m)
2
exp
_
_
. (3.95)
This is the relativistic expression for the Landau damping, to which it
reduces at the Newtonian limit. This expression is valid for = k, since it
corresponds to the lowest approximation in
2
, and when m 1, i.e. at
the ultrarelativistic limit.
3.6. The Conductivity Tensor
From the expression of the small deviation from equilibrium
f
(1)
(k, p) =
1
k p i
ep
(1)
(k)

p
f
eq
(p), (3.96)
a result of the linearized Vlasov equation, one obtains the expression for
the o-equilibrium four-current
J
(k) =
_
d
4
p p
f
(1)
(k, p) = eF
(1)
(k)
_
d
4
p
p
k p i
f
eq
(p),
(3.97)
from which one immediately reads the expression for the conductivity
tensor:
(k) = e
_
d
4
p
p
k p i
f
eq
(p). (3.98)
In terms of our various integrals, it can be written as
(k) =

2
P
8i
_
(
) + (k
)
_
. (3.99)
At zero temperature, this tensor has the explicit form
(k) =

2
P
8i
_
(
)
k u
+
u
(k
)
(k u)
2
_
, (3.100)

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
which reduces to its usual form
9
in the frame of reference where u
= (1, 0).
At innite temperature, one may show that
(k) vanishes.
3.7. PlasmaBeam Instability
Let us now consider the problem of a relativistic plasma into which a
beam of neutralized relativistic electrons is injected. Such a problem can be
described by two distribution functions: a J uttnerSynge distribution for
the plasma and another one, of a dierent type, for the beam. Denoting by
u
beam
the four-velocity of the beam, the latter could be described by
f
beam
(p) = n
beam
(4)
(p mu
beam
). (3.101)
This distribution is, however, much too singular and a dispersion in
momentum should be allowed. Therefore, we are led to choose another
J uttnerSynge distribution for the beam, which is the simplest but not the
only possible choice:
f
beam
(p) =
n
beam
4m
2
K
2
(m
)
exp(
u
beam
p). (3.102)
Furthermore, the beam is assumed to be cold, i.e. m
1, and constitutes
a weak perturbation of the basic plasma: n
beam
n.
3.7.1. Perturbed dispersion relations for the plasmabeam
system
Let us limit the present discussion to longitudinal modes. Writing the dis-
persion relations for these plasma waves as
D(, k) = 0, (3.103)
the perturbation brought about by the beam yields
D(, k) +D(, k) = 0, (3.104)
where D(, k) is the modication introduced by the presence of the beam.
Solutions to the perturbed dispersion relations will now be sought, close to
those of the unperturbed system, as
=
0
+. (3.105)
9
See e.g. S. Gartenhaus, Elements of Plasma Physics (Holt, Rinehart and Winston,
New York, 1964).

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
From the perturbed dispersion relation, we immediately obtain
D(, k) +
D(, k)
=
0
= 0, (3.106)
where terms of order (m
)
2
are implicitly neglected. Thus, we have
=
D(, k)
D(,k)
=
0
. (3.107)
The denominator occurring in this equation is easily calculated at order 0
in
2
and is found to be
D(, k)
=
0
=
1
2
0
, (3.108)
where
0
is the solution to the longitudinal dispersion relation, given above.
Let us now concentrate on the calculation of D(, k). From the longitu-
dinal dispersion relation
2
P
+k
2
2
k
2
= 2I
0
2
P
2
k
2
+
2
P
I
0
, (3.109)
we obtain
D(, k) =
2
P
2
2
P
0
I
0
(
2
0
k
2
)
2
P
I
0
, (3.110)
with
_
2
P
=
n
beam
n

2
P
K
1
(m
)
K
2
(m
)
,
I
=
1
nm
2
_
d
3
p
p
0
p
p
0
kp
3
f
beam
(p).
(3.111)
Despite the formal similarity between I
0
and I
0
, some care is needed when
one is evaluating I
0
; indeed, I
0
has been calculated in the rest frame of
the background plasma where I
0
must also be evaluated, and not in the
rest frame of the beam.
3.7.2. Stability of the beamplasma system
Since we are mainly interested in the stability of the system, we deal with
only the imaginary part of , and we nd that
Im = =

4
n
beam
n
plasma
m
K
2
(
m)
2
P
0
k
2
||
1/2
(u
0
beam
ku
3
beam
)
1
(m)
2
2
exp
_
m
_
s
_
1/2
_
. (3.112)

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
where we have set
_
=
(u
beam
)k
,
s = k
2
.
(3.113)
This expression reduces to the usual nonrelativistic one and this can be
checked with the use of the following data:
_
_
m 1 (nonrelativistic background plasma),
u
0
beam
1, u
beam
v (nonrelativistic beam),
||
1/2
k (since

ij
).
(3.114)
Also, use is made of the asymptotic form of the Kelvin function K
2
and of
the relation
_
_
exp
_
m
_
1
_
s
_
1/2
__
exp
_
1
2
m
_
k
v
_
2
_
,
with
2
k
2
or, equivalently,
2
2
1.
(3.115)
Let us now compare with the Landau damping decrement
L
, obtained
above. We have
L
=
n
beam
n
plasma
K
2
(m)
K
2
(
m)
k
||
1/2
u
0
beam
ku
3
beam
0
exp
_
1
m
_
s
_
1/2
_
, (3.116)
which may be rewritten as
L
=
n
beam
n
plasma
K
2
(m)
K
2
(
m)
k
||
1/2
u
0
beam
ku
3
beam
0
exp
_
1
_
1

|u
3
beam
u
0
beam
|
__
, (3.117)
where the expression of which occurs in the exponential has been eval-
uated at order 0 in
2
. Note that this equation is not valid when v 1.
This equation is quite similar to the nonrelativistic one,
10
and hence similar
conclusions can be drawn.
Let us examine the case of a highly relativistic beam, i.e. such that its
ordinary velocity w |w| is close to 1. We have
u
3
beam
= u
0
beam
wcos , (3.118)
10
See A.G. Sitenko, loc. cit.

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.
where is the angle between the spatial direction of the wave and that
of the beam, i.e. between k and w. A necessary condition for an unstable
behavior is
u
0
beam
ku
3
beam
< 0 (3.119)
or, equivalently,
cos >

kw
. (3.120)
This last inequality implies that /k w < 0; furthermore, it is necessary
that
> 1. (3.121)
In fact, since we are interested in those /ks and ws which are close to 1,
the angle is itself close to 0. For a highly relativistic beam, we have
(u
0
beam
ku
3
beam
)
2
(3.122)
so that, for waves propagating normally to the beam, we get

1
(m)
2
2
exp
_
k
u
0
beam
_
, (3.123)
while for waves propagating along the beam we obtain

1
(m)
2
2
exp
_
k
w
_
u
0
beam
_
. (3.124)
The rst equation shows that waves propagating perpendicularly to the
beam are less and less damped as w 1, while those propagating along
the beam are less and less unstable as the beam becomes more and more
relativistic. This conclusion agrees with earlier results obtained by K.M.
Watson, S.A. Bludman and M.N. Rosenbluth (1960).

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

t
o

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
i
s
t
i
c

S
t
a
t
i
s
t
i
c
a
l

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

D
o
w
n
l
o
a
d
e
d

f
r
o
m

w
w
w
.
w
o
r
l
d
s
c
i
e
n
t
i
f
i
c
.
c
o
m
b
y

N
A
N
Y
A
N
G

T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L

U
N
I
V
E
R
S
I
T
Y

o
n

0
9
/
2
2
/
1
3
.

F
o
r

p
e
r
s
o
n
a
l

u
s
e

o
n
l
y
.

Relativistic Plasmas: January 24, 2011 15:2 9in X 6in Introduction To Relativistic Statistical Mechanics - . - b1039-ch03

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Título original

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Relativistic Plasmas: January 24, 2011 15:2 9in X 6in Introduction To Relativistic Statistical Mechanics - . - b1039-ch03

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

January 24, 2011 15:2 9in x 6in Introduction to Relativistic Statistical Mechanics . . .

and the four-current J

= 0, whatever the electromagnetic eld,

, it has the general form

(k) is the total electromagnetic eld:

(k) remains invariant.

(k) are then written as

(k) has been decomposed on the two orthogonal

be the four-potential to which is subjected a test particle whose

(x) obeys Maxwells equations written in the form

is the average four-velocity both of the plasma

. Finally, in a reference frame where u

(x) is the four-current that generates the electromagnetic eld

only. This integral is a function of ,

are the only four-vectors in the theory. Multiplying now

successively, one gets a linear system

Você também pode gostar