Kinetic equations for plasmas subjected to a strong time-dependent external field. Part 1. General theory
Abstract
It is shown that the concept of subdynamics introduced by Prigogine, George & Henin, and extended by Balescu & Wallenborn, can be generalized nontrivially to systems submitted to time-dependent external fields. The distribution vector of the system is split into two components by means of a time- dependent projection operator. Each of these obeys an independent equation of evolution. The description of the evolution of one of these components (the superkinetic component) can be reduced to a kinetic equation for a one-particle distribution function. It is shown that, when the external field vanishes for all times t ≤ t0, and if the system has reached a (field-free) equilibrium (or a ‘kinetic state’) at time t0, then for t ≥ t0 the kinetic equation derived here provides an exact and complete description of the evolution. A general expression for the nonlinear response of the system to the external field is derived.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Plasma Physics
- Pub Date:
- June 1974
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S0022377800024727
- Bibcode:
- 1974JPlPh..11..357B