Thermodynamics of driven collisionless systems

TL;DR

This paper develops a statistical theory to predict the stationary states of driven collisionless systems, validated by analytical solutions and molecular dynamics simulations, with applications to electron beams under external electric fields.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical approach to determine stationary states in driven collisionless systems, validated against simulations, and constructs the full current-voltage phase diagram.

Findings

Analytical solutions match molecular dynamics simulations perfectly.

The theory accurately predicts the current-voltage phase diagram.

The approach provides insights into collisionless relaxation processes.

Abstract

A statistical theory is presented which allows to calculate the stationary state achieved by a driven system after a process of collisionless relaxation. The theory is applied to study an electron beam driven by an external electric field. The Vlasov equation with appropriate boundary conditions is solved analytically and compared with the molecular dynamics simulation. A perfect agreement is found between the theory and the simulations. The full current-voltage phase diagram is constructed.