Single-particle velocity distributions of collisionless, steady-state plasmas must follow Superstatistics
Statistical Mechanics
2019-09-04 v1 Plasma Physics
Abstract
The correct modelling of velocity distribution functions for particles in steady-state plasmas is a central element in the study of nuclear fusion and also in the description of space plasmas. In this work, a statistical mechanical formalism for the description of collisionless plasmas in a steady state is presented, based solely on the application of the rules of probability and not relying on the concept of entropy. Beck and Cohen's superstatistical framework is recovered as a limiting case, and a "microscopic" definition of inverse temperature is given. Non-extensivity is not invoked a priori but enters the picture only through the analysis of correlations between parts of the system.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1906.08072,
title = {Single-particle velocity distributions of collisionless, steady-state plasmas must follow Superstatistics},
author = {Sergio Davis and Gonzalo Avaria and Biswajit Bora and Jalaj Jain and José Moreno and Cristian Pavez and Leopoldo Soto},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1906.08072},
year = {2019}
}