On the Ion Distribution Function in Degenerate Electron Plasmas

Abstract

In highly-compressed plasmas as realized in inertial confinement fusion, the wave nature of electrons becomes noticeable and Pauli's exclusion principle restricts the energy transition of electrons remarkably. Such a state is called "electron degeneracy". In addition, the electron degeneracy may affect the energy distribution and temperature of coexisting ions through Coulombic ion-electron interaction. In order to evaluate these effects, we developed and solved the model equation for the distribution function of ions in degenerate electron plasmas. As a result, it is shown that the ion distribution function maintains a Maxwellian form at a temperature equal to that of degenerate electrons in thermal equilibrium because two effects of electron degeneracy-spectral hardening and Pauli blocking-counteract each other. Furthermore the electron degeneracy slows temperature relaxation between ions and electrons in non-thermal equilibrium.

Analysis of suprathermal nuclear processes in the solar core plasma

“…It is possible to generalize equation (33) to the case of suprathermal reactions induced by fast particles k having a continuous source energy spectrum ¢ ( ) S E k . Such particles can be produced, e.g., in a reaction like…”

“…Apparently, electron screening does not affect the probability of in-flight reaction W kl , equation (6), as this process is induced by energetic particles. Nevertheless, it can still enhance the in-flight reaction rate, equation (33), due to an increase of the particle emission rate R k ij , in a screened thermal i+j reaction.…”

“…Using equation (33) reaction is shown by solid curves marked with symbols for different models of particle energy loss (they are not resolved well on a logarithmic scale). In addition, we present here some estimates for another source of fast α-particles (see figure 1).…”

“…Note that one more consequence of electron degeneracy is Pauli blocking-a restriction of scattering collision between an electron and other particle[33]. However, it plays a subdominant role and is not considered here.J.…”