Quantum hydrodynamics for plasmas -- a Thomas-Fermi theory perspective

TL;DR

This paper derives a more rigorous quantum hydrodynamics framework for plasmas from Thomas-Fermi theory, clarifying its limitations and providing systematic improvements based on system dimensionality.

Contribution

It establishes a firm theoretical foundation for quantum hydrodynamics in plasmas by deriving modified equations from Thomas-Fermi theory with gradient corrections.

Findings

Modified QHD equations derived from Thomas-Fermi theory

Different prefactor in quantum potential depending on dimensionality

Clarification of applicability limits of QHD equations

Abstract

The idea to describe quantum systems within a hydrodynamic framework (quantum hydrodynamics, QHD) goes back to Madelung and Bohm. While such a description is formally exact for a single particle, more recently the concept has been applied to many-particle systems by Manfredi and Haas [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 64}, 075316 (2001)] and received high popularity in parts of the quantum plasma community. Thereby, often the applicability limits of these equations are ignored, giving rise to unphysical predictions. Here we demonstrate that modified QHD equations for plasmas can be derived from Thomas-Fermi theory including gradient corrections. This puts QHD on firm grounds. At the same time this derivation yields a different prefactor, $\gamma=(D-2/3D)$, in front of the quantum (Bohm) potential which depends on the system dimensionality $D$. Our approach allows one to identify the limitations of QHD and to outline systematic improvements.