Electron Thermalization and Heating in Relativistic Plasmas
Abstract
The elastic binary collision processes which drive an electron distribution to thermal form are investigated. These processes are Moller scattering between two electrons or two positrons, and Bhabha scattering between an electron and a positron. The problem of electron thermalization is addressed using a Fokker-Planck approach. Fokker-Planck coefficients are calculated for a test particle gaining and losing energy through various processes in relativistic thermal plasma.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1086/167314
- Bibcode:
- 1989ApJ...339..512D
- Keywords:
-
- Coulomb Collisions;
- Electron Energy;
- Particle Acceleration;
- Plasma Heating;
- Relativistic Plasmas;
- Electron Distribution;
- Energy Dissipation;
- Fokker-Planck Equation;
- Thermal Plasmas;
- Astrophysics;
- PARTICLE ACCELERATION;
- PLASMAS;
- RADIATION MECHANISMS