Weibel Instabilities in a Completely Degenerate Electron Fermi Gas

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum Weibel instabilities in a degenerate electron Fermi gas, revealing new types including an oscillatory instability and a transverse zero-sound mode absent in classical plasmas.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum Weibel instability and identifies a transverse zero-sound mode in a degenerate electron gas, expanding understanding of quantum plasma behaviors.

Findings

Discovery of a new oscillatory Weibel instability.

Identification of a transverse zero-sound mode.

Growth rate of the instability is quantitatively obtained.

Abstract

We study the Weibel instability in a degenerate Fermi plasma. We disclose new type of quantum Weibel instabilities. In particular, a novel oscillatory Weibel instability is found and its growth rate is obtained. We reveal a transverse zero-sound in a quantum degenerate electron gas, which has no counterpart in the classical consideration.