Debye-Onsager-Relaxation-Effect beyond linear Response and Antiscreening in Plasma Systems

TL;DR

This paper derives a quantum kinetic model for charged particles in strong electric fields, revealing nonlinear screening effects, descreening phenomena, and the limits of plasma thermalization beyond linear response regimes.

Contribution

It provides a complete quantum mechanical calculation of the relaxation field and screening cloud deformation beyond linear response, extending understanding of plasma behavior in strong fields.

Findings

Screening is nonlinear and can be completely descreened at high fields.

A critical field strength limits plasma thermalization.

The classical limit of the quantum results is analytically derived.

Abstract

The quantum kinetic equation for charged particles in strong electric fields is derived and analyzed with respect to the particle flux. It is found that the applied electric field is screened nonlinearly. The relaxation field is calculated completely quantum mechanically and up to any order in the applied field. The classical limit is given in analytical form. In the range of weak fields the deformation of the screening cloud is responsible for the Debye-Onsager relaxation effect. The result beyond linear response presented here allows to investigate a field regime where no screening cloud is present. The descreening field is determined as a function of thermal energy density of the plasma. For stronger fields the moving charge is accelerated by accumulated opposite charges in front of the particle. This can be understood in analogue to the accoustic Doppler effect. A critical field strength is presented up to which value a thermalized plasma is possible. The range of applicability of the treatment is discussed with respect to applied field strength and space gradients.