Generation of longitudinal electric current by the transversal electromagnetic field in collisional plasma

TL;DR

This paper derives a nonlinear formula for the longitudinal electric current generated by a transversal electromagnetic field in collisional plasma, considering arbitrary electron gas degeneracy and collision effects, with results matching collisionless cases as collisions vanish.

Contribution

It introduces a new nonlinear analysis of longitudinal current generation in collisional plasma using the Vlasov equation with BGK collision integral, extending previous linear models.

Findings

Longitudinal current appears due to nonlinearity in electromagnetic field interaction.

Results reduce to known collisionless plasma formulas when collision frequency approaches zero.

Graphical analysis shows current dependence on wave number, frequency, and collision rate.

Abstract

Kinetic Vlasov equation for collisional plasmas with BGK (Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook) collision integral is used. The case of arbitrary temperature (i.e. arbitrary degree of degeneration of electronic gas) is considered. From kinetic Vlasov equation the distribution function in square-law approximation on size of transversal electromagnetic field is received. The formula for calculation electric current is deduced. This formula contains one-dimension quadrature. It is shown, that the nonlinearity account leads to occurrence the longitudinal electric current directed along the wave vector. This longitudinal current is perpendicular to the known transversal classical current, received at the linear analysis. When frequency of collisions tends to zero, all received results for collisional plasma pass in known corresponding formulas for collisionless plasma. The case of small values of wave number is considered. It is shown, that the received quantity of longitudinal current at tendency of frequency of collisions to zero also passes in known corresponding expression of current for collisionless plasmas. Graphic research of dimensionless density of the current depending on wave number, frequency of oscillations of electromagnetic field and frequency of electron collisions with plasma particles is carried out.