Free expansion of a plasma with two electron temperatures
Abstract
A theory for the free expansion of a plasma with two electron temperatures is presented. It is shown that in the case of a laser-produced plasma expansion the ions separate into a fast and a slow component, and that the number of fast ions is particularly sensitive to the hot to cold electron temperature ratio. If the electron temperature ratio is 10 then the quasi-neutral self-similar solution breaks down. The regions in the rarefaction expansion where the quasi-neutrality assumption fails are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Plasma Physics
- Pub Date:
- August 1979
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1979JPlPh..22..167W
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Energy;
- Ion Temperature;
- Laser Plasmas;
- Plasma Composition;
- Electron Distribution;
- Expansion;
- Hot Electrons;
- Ion Distribution;
- Mathematical Models;
- Temperature Distribution;
- Plasma Physics