Solutions to Chens Plasma Physics

1-1. Compute the density (in units of m3 ) of an ideal gas under the following conditions: a) At 0o C and 760 Torr pressure (1 Torr = 1mm Hg). This is called the Loschmidt number. b) In a vacuum at 103 Torr at room temperature (20o C). This number is a useful one for the experimentalist to know by heart (103 Torr = 1 micron). a) Avogadros number is NA = 6.022 1023 . One mole of gas at STP occupies 22.4 liters. 1 liter is 1 103 cubic meters. Thus, the number per cubic meter is NA /n = 6.022 1023 /(22.4 103 ) = 2.66 1025 m3 . Thus, the Loschmidt number is 2.66 1025 2 b) Using PV=NkT, we obtain (with R= 1.4 1023 J K 1 and 1 Torr = 133 Pa): n= N P 103 133 = = = 3.3 1019 m3 2 V kT 1.4 1023 (20 + 273) (1)

1-2. Derive the constant A for a normalized one-dimensional Maxwellian distribution

(2)

such that

f (u)du = 1

(3)

This one is straightforward. Just integrate:

1=

Aemu

2 /2kT

du = A

2kT m

A=

m 2kT

(4)

1-4. Compute the pressure, in atmospheres and in tons/f t2 , exerted by a thermonuclear plasma on its container. Assume kTe = kTi = 20keV , n = 1021 m3 and p = nkT , where T = Ti + Te . This is just unit conversion, albeit with units that nobody really ever remembers. For reference, 1 keV = 1.6 1019 J, so p = 1021 (20keV + 20keV ) = 4 1022 m3 keV = 4 103 m3 J = 4 103 N/m2 (5)

But 1 atm = 105 N/m2 = 1 ton/f t2 , so (Note: I think there is a mistake in Chens solutions here. If I am mistaken, please let me know). p = 0.04 atm = 0.04 ton/f t2 2 (6)

1-5. In a strictly steady state situation, both the ions and the electrons will follow the Boltzmann relation nj = n0 eqj /kTj (7) For the case of an innite, transparent grid charged to a potential , show that the shielding distance is given approximately by 2 = D ne2
0

1 1 + ) kTe kTi

(8)

Show that D is determined by the temperature of the colder species. Well use Poissons equation
2

ene eni
0

en0
0

(ee/kTe ee/kTi )

en0
0

(1 +

e e e2 n 1 )= ( + ) (9) kTe kTi kTi 0 kTe

Now well suppose the goes like a decreasing exponential: = 0 exp(x/D ). Thus, the Laplacian acting on this is
2

1 ne2 = ( + ) 2 kTi D 0 kTe

1 ne2 1 1 = ( + ) 2 2 kTi D 0 kTe

(10)

To show that D is determined by the colder species, we suppose rst that the electrons are the colder species: Te Ti . Then, 1 ne2 = kTe 0 2 D Alternatively, if the ions are colder, Ti D = kTe 0 2 ne2 (11)

Te , then a similar analysis yields: D = kTi 0 2 ne2 (12)

ne2 1 = kTi 0 2 D

1-6. An alternative derivation of D will give further insight to its meaning. Consider two innite, parallel plates at x = d, set at potential = 0. The space between them is uniformly lled by a gas of density n of particles of charge q. a) Using Poissons equation, show that the potential distribution between the plates is nq 2 = (d x2 ) (13) 2 0 b) Show that for d > D , the energy needed to transport a particle from a plate to the mid plane is greater than the average kinetic energy of the particles. 1-9. A distant galaxy contains a cloud of protons and antiprotons, each with density n = 106 m3 and temperature T = 100o K. What is the Debye length? The Debye length is given by 0 kTj D = (14) nj e 2 j j Plugging in the numbers: D = 8.85 1012 1.4 1023 100 = 0.48 m 2 106 (1.6 1019 )2 (15)

As a check, use the SI unit form for the Debye length given in Chen. If T is in Kelvin, and n is in cubic meters, then: T 102 D = 69 m = 69 m = 69 102 m 2 (16) n 106 This is the same order of magnitude so we are ok. 1-10. A spherical conductor of radius a is immersed in a plasma and charged to a potential 0 . The electrons remain Maxwellian and move to form a Debye shield, but the ions are stationary during the time frame of the experiment. Assuming 0 kTe /e, derive an expression for the potential as a function of r in terms of a, 0 , and D . (Hint: Assume a solution of the form ebr /r.) Lets assume a solution of this form: = Aebr /r. Then,
2

1 2 e (r ) = b2 = (ne ni ) 2 r r r 0

(17)

Since the electrons are Maxwellian, they obey ne = n0 ee/kTe n0 (1 + e/kTe ). The ions, however, are stationary, so ni = n0 . Thus we have: b2 = Thus, so far we have: er/D r But we also need to match the boundary condition that (a) = 0 . So, =A 0 = A So, nally we have our answer: er/D 2 (21) r You know what they say: if it satises Poissons equation and the boundary conditions then it must be the answer. (r) = 0 ea/D a 2-3. An ion engine (see Fig. 106) has a 1-T magnetic eld, and a hydrogen plasma is to be shot out at an E B velocity of 1000 km/s. How much internal electric eld must be present in the plasma? The E B velocity is given by EB v= (22) B2 Plugging in the numbers: 106 m/s = |E| 1T |E| = 1000 V /m 2 (23) ea/D a A = a0 ea/D (19) e
0

(n0 + n0

e n0 e 2 n0 ) = 2 kTe D 0 kTe

b=

1 D

(18)

(20)

2-4. Show that vE is the same for two ions of equal mass and charge but dierent energies, by using the following physical picture (see Fig. 2-2). Approximate the right half of the orbit by a semicircle corresponding to the ion energy after acceleration by the E eld, and the left half by a semicircle corresponding to the energy after deceleration. You may assume that E is weak, so that the fractional change in v is small. If the energy of the right part of the orbit is E1 and the energy of the left part of the orbit is E2 , then we have E1 = E0 + eEr1 , E2 = E0 eEr2 (24) where E0 is the initial energy and E is the electric eld. The velocity is determined by v = so 2E0 + 2eEr1 2E0 eEr2 v1 = v2 = m m The Larmor radius is determined via r = mv /qB, so r1,2 Thus, r1,2 (1 m E 1 )= 2E0 qB c 2E0 eE (1 m 2E0 c 2E0 ) m (27) m = qB 2E0 m eEr1,2 1 = E0 2mE0 eEr1,2 (1 )= qB 2E0 2E0 1 Er1,2 m c 2 mE0 c (26) 2E/m, (25)

The guiding center moves a distance r1 r2 : r1 r2 = The velocity of the guiding center is vgc = 2 2eE 2E c 4eE E r1 r2 = = = 2 (r1 r2 ) = 2 T 2 2mc mc B B (29) eE E0 c 2E0 1 m c 2E0 2eE = 2 m mc (28)

since c = eB/m. This is a pretty good approximation. 2-5. Suppose electrons obey the Boltzmann relation of Problem 1-5 in a cylindrically symmetric plasma column in which n(r) varies with a scale length ; that is n/r = n/. a) Using E = , nd the radial electric eld for a given . b) For electrons, show that the nite Larmor radius eects are large if vE is as large as vth . Specically, show that rL = 2 if vE = vth . c) Is (b) also true for ions? Hint: Do not use Poissons equation. a) We simply solve for from the Boltzmann relation for electrons. n = n0 ee/kTe Therefore, E= = kTe n0 1 n kTe = = 2 r r r r e n n0 r e (31) = kTe n ln( ) e n0 (30)

b) We start with the denitions of vE , vth , and rL : vE = E , B vth = 2kTe , m rL = mv eB (32)

So, calculating the magnitude of vE : vE =

(33)

where in the last step I have assumed that the perpendicular velocity is the thermal velocity. Now, setting vE = vth , it is easy to see that rL = 2 2 (34) c) Sure, why not? 2-6. Suppose that a so-called Q-machine has a uniform eld of 0.2 T and a cylindrical plasma with kTe = kTi = 0.2 eV . The density prole is found experimentally to be of the form n = n0 exp[exp(r2 /a2 ) 1] (35) Assume the density obeys the electron Boltzmann relation n = n0 exp(e/kTe ). a) Calculate the maximum vE if a = 1 cm. b) Compare this with vE due to the earths gravitational eld. c) To what value can B be lowered before the ions of potassium (A = 39, Z = 1) have a Larmor radius equal to a? We solve for : n0 exp[exp(r2 /a2 ) 1] = n0 exp(e/kTe ) = kTe r2 /a2 (e 1) e (36)

Thus, the electric eld is E= and so vE (and its maximum) is vE = 2rkTe r2 /a2 E = e B ea2 B r= a2 2 2 (38) kTe 2r r2 /a2 = r e r r e a2 (37)

vE 2kTe 4r2 kTe r2 /a2 2 2 = 2 er /a e =0 r ea B ea4 B So, with a = 1 cm, vE,max = 2kTe ea2 B a2 1/2 e 2

(39)

8.5 km/sec 2
a=1 cm,B=0.2 T,kTe =0.2 keV

(40)

b) If we assume these are potassium ions, we have mg = 39 1.6 1027 9.8 = 6.4 1025 N . Meanwhile, if we plug in the numbers above into the expression for the electric eld (equation 37), well get that E = 17 V /m. Thus, the force due to the electric eld is eE = 1.6 1019 17 = 2.8 1018 N . Thus the gravitational drift is Fg 6.4 1025 = 1.5 107 FE 2.8 1018 (41)

times smaller. 2 c) The Larmor radius is rL = mvth /qB, so, in terms of the constants of vth , we have (setting rL = a): rL = Plugging in the numbers: B= 2 39 1.6 1027 0.2 1.6 1019 = 4 102 T 2 (17 1.6 1019 )2 (0.1 102 )2 (43) m qB 2kTe =a m B= 2mkTe q 2 a2 (42)