A linearized kinetic theory of spin-1/2 particles in magnetized plasmas

TL;DR

This paper develops a linear kinetic theory for spin-1/2 particles in magnetized plasmas, incorporating quantum spin effects into the classical plasma framework, and derives the conductivity tensor including spin contributions.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum-mechanically derived mean field Vlasov-like equation that accounts for electron spin precession and magnetic dipole forces in plasma kinetic theory.

Findings

Derived the general conductivity tensor including spin effects.

Identified parameter regimes where quantum spin effects are significant.

Extended classical plasma theory to include quantum spin dynamics.

Abstract

We have considered linear kinetic theory including the electron spin properties in a magnetized plasma. The starting point is a mean field Vlasov-like equation, derived from a fully quantum mechanical treatment, where effects from the electron spin precession and the magnetic dipole force is taken into account. The general conductivity tensor is derived, including both the free current contribution, as well as the magnetization current associated with the spin contribution. We conclude the paper with an extensive discussion of the quantum-mechanical boundary where we list parameter conditions that must be satisfied for various quantum effects to be influential.