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Dr. Peter T. Gallagher

Astrophysics Research Group
Trinity College Dublin

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o  Fluid approach describes bulk properties of plasma. We do not attempt to solve
unique trajectories of all particles in a plasma. This simplification works very well
for majority of plasmas, despite gross simplifications made.

o  Fluid theory follows directly from moments of the Boltzmann equation (Lecture 7).

o  Each of the moments of the Boltzmann equation is a transport equation describing

the dynamics of a quantity associated with a given power of v.

"n Continuity of mass or

+ # $(nu) = 0
"t charge transport

%"u ( Momentum
mn' + (u # $)u* = qn(E + u + B) , $ #P + Pij
& "t ! ) Transport

" # 1 2& # 1 & m 2 , "f / Energy

%n mu ( + ) * %n m u 2u (' + nq E * u = 2 2 u .- "t 10 du
!"t $ 2 ' $ 2 coll Transport

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o  Simplest set of macroscopic equations can be obtained by simplifying the
momentum transfer equation and neglect thermal motions of particles.

o  Here, set kinetic pressure tensor to zero, i.e., P = mn <ww> = 0 as w = 0.

o  Remaining macroscopic variables are then n and u, described by

"n
+ # $(nu) = 0
"t
%"u (
mn' + (u # $)u* = qn(E + u + B) + Pij
& "t )
!
o  Collision term Pij can be approximated by by an “effective” collision frequency.

!
o  Assumed that collisions cause a rate of decrease in momentum:

Pij = "mnveff u

!
 C-$/A+,-./-*B%&;,*
o  Alternative set of macroscopic equation is obtained by truncating energy
conservation equation.
" pxx pxy pxz %
$ '
o  Consider pressure tensor: P = mn ww = $ pyx pyy pyz '
$p '
# zx pzy pzz &

o  Components represent transport of momentum. Diagonal elements represent

pressure, while off-diagonal
! represent shearing stresses.

o  In warm-plasma model, only consider diagonal pressure elements, so

" #P = "p

o  That is, viscous forces are neglected. We then have

"n
! + # $(nu) = 0
"t
%"u (
mn' + (u # $)u* = qn(E + u + B) , $p + Pij
& "t )
!

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o  The previous system of equations does not form a closed set, since scalar pressure
is now a third variable. Usually determined by energy equation

o  If plasma is isothermal, assume equation of state of form:

p = nkBT and "p = kBT"n

o  Holds for slow time variations, allowing temperatures to reach equilibrium.

!
o  If plasma does not exchange energy with its surrounds, assume it is adiabatic:

"p "n
p n-! = constant and =#
p n

where ! is the ratio of the specific heats at constant pressure.

!
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o  Note, the energy equation can be written

"[1/2nm < w2 >]

"t
( )
+ # $ 1/2nm < w2 > u + (P $ #)u + # $ q = Pij

where q is the heat flow vector. For electrons, commonly used approximation for q is

! q = K"T
where K is the thermal Spitzer conductivity.

! is 1/2m <ww> = 3/2 k T and using p = n k T

o  As average energy of plasma B B
=> 3/2 p = 1/2nm<ww>. Energy equation can then be written

"(3/2 p)
+ # $ ( 3/2 pu) % p# $ u + # $ q = Pij
"t
o  The quantity 3/2pu represents the flow of energy density at the fluid velocity.

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o  Consider plasma of two species; ions and electrons, in which fluid is fully ionised,
isotropic and collisionless. The charge and current densities are

" = ni qi + ne qe
j = ni qi v i + ne qe v e

o  Using v = u, complete set of electrodynamics equations are then (j = i or e)

%"v (
! m j n j ' j + (v j # $)v j * = +$p j + q j n j (E + v j , B)
& "t )
"n j
+ $ #(n j v j ) = 0
"t
-0 $ # E = .
"B
$,E = +
"t
$ #B = 0
1 "E
$ , B = j+ -0
µ0 "t
/
pj = Cjnj j

!
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o  Since a fluid element is composed of mane individual particles, expect drifts
perpendicular to B. But, the grad (p) term results in a fluid drift called diamagnetic
drift.

o  Consider momentum equation for each species:

%"v (
mn' + (v # $)v* = +$p + qn(E + v , B)
& "t )

(1) (2) (3)

o  Consider ratio !
of terms (1) to (3):
(1) mni#v$ #
" "
(3) qnv$B #c

o  Here we have used " /"t = i# . If only consider slow drifts compared to time-scale
of the gyrofrequency, can set (1) to zero.
!

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o  Therefore can write 0 " #qn(E + v$ % B) # &p

where v " B = (v# + v || ) " B = v# " B

!
o  Taking the cross-product 0 = qn[E " B + (v# " B) " B]$ %p " B
!
o  Using the identity (A " B)" C = (C # A)B $ (C # B)A we can write
!
0 = qn[E " B + (v# $ B)B % (B $ B)v#]% &p " B
o  As v⊥ is !
perpendicular to B, v⊥. B = 0. Therefore

! E # B %p # B
v" = $
B2 qnB2
= v E + vD

!
 >,'2&.*&$2K.*=;$=;"&2(',-$*#%*L*
o  In previous equation is E"B E ! B drift
vE =
B2
and #p $ B is diamagnetic drift.
vD = "
qnB2
!

o  The vE drift is same as for guiding centres, but there is now a new drift, called the
! diamagnetic drift. Is in opposite directions for ions and electrons.

o  Gives currents in plasma that reduce magnetic field in plasma. More ions moving to
left in shaded area that to the right (Inan & Golkowski, Page 111).

M2-/-G";)(*M$2K*2"*NA/-(02";.*

o  Diamagnetic drift first measured in Q-machines

o  See http://www.physics.uiowa.edu/xplasma/Qmachine.html
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o  Consider z component of fluid equation of motion:

%"v ( "p
mn' z + (v # $)vz * = +qnEz +
& "t ) "z
o  The convective term can be neglected as is is much smaller than "vz /"t

! "p "n
o  Using p = n kB T or = k BT we can write
"z "z
!

"vz q $k T "n
= Ez # B
! "t m mn "z

o  This shows that the fluid is accelerated along B under the combined electrostatic
and pressure gradient forces.
!

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o  Taking the limit as m -> 0 and q = -e and Ez = "#$ /dz we have

"# $k T "n
eEz = e = B
dz n dz
!
o  Electrons are so mobile that their heat conductivity is almost infinite.

!
o  Assuming isothermal electrons and taking ! = 1, we can integrate to get

e" = kBT ln(n) + C

o  We can therefore write

n = n0 exp(e" / kBT )
!
o  This is called the Boltzmann relation or Boltzmann factor for electrons.

!
o  Implies that electrons have a tendency to move rapidly in response to and external
force (i.e., electrostatic potential gradient).