Plasma polarization in massive astrophysical objects

TL;DR

This paper investigates plasma polarization in massive astrophysical objects, highlighting the role of non-ideality effects due to Coulomb interactions, using a density functional approach in a simplified equilibrium model.

Contribution

It introduces a new non-ideality force into the analysis of plasma polarization in MAO, considering Coulomb interactions within a density functional framework.

Findings

Identification of a new non-ideality force affecting plasma polarization.

Conditions for equilibrium involving generalized electrochemical potentials.

Discussion of potential effects on the thermodynamics and hydrodynamics of MAO.

Abstract

Macroscopic plasma polarization, which is created by gravitation and other mass-acting (inertial) forces in massive astrophysical objects (MAO) is under discussion. Non-ideality effect due to strong Coulomb interaction of charged particles is introduced into consideration as a new source of such polarization. Simplified situation of totally equilibrium isothermal star without relativistic effects and influence of magnetic field is considered. The study is based on density functional approach combined with local density approximation. It leads to conditions of constancy for generalized (electro) chemical potentials and/or conditions of equilibrium for the forces acting on each charged specie. New non-ideality force appears in this consideration. Hypothetical sequences of gravitational, inertial and non-ideality polarization on thermo- and hydrodynamics of MAO are under discussion.