Phase-space structures in quantum-plasma wave turbulence

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum effects in plasma wave turbulence using the Wigner-Poisson system, revealing transient oscillations in velocity space and validating the quantum quasilinear theory through numerical simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum quasilinear theory for the Wigner-Poisson system and confirms its predictions with numerical simulations of plasma instabilities.

Findings

Quantum effects cause transient oscillations in the Wigner function.

The wavelength of oscillations matches numerical simulation results.

Quantum quasilinear theory accurately describes plasma wave turbulence.

Abstract

The quasilinear theory of the Wigner-Poisson system in one spatial dimension is examined. Conservation laws and properties of the stationary solutions are determined. Quantum effects are shown to manifest themselves in transient periodic oscillations of the averaged Wigner function in velocity space. The quantum quasilinear theory is checked against numerical simulations of the bump-on-tail and the two-stream instabilities. The predicted wavelength of the oscillations in velocity space agrees well with the numerical results.