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Introduction to plasma physics

Plasma definition (S. Ichimaru, Statistical Plasma Physics, Vol I)
Plasma is any statistical system containing mobile charged particles.
Note Statistical means macroscopic, for scale length L and free electron
density the relation L >> ne-1/3 holds.
Note Nearly any system contains some mobile charged particles, but if their
impact on the system behavior is negligible, it has no sense to describe it using
methods of plasma physics.
Note According to this definition, systems are classified as plasmas even if they
are not macroscopically neutral, so called „non-neutral plasmas“ (e.g.
charged particle beams). These systems do not meet other plasma definitions.
Other Plasma definition (F.F. Chen, Introduction to plasma physics)
Plasma is quasi-neutral system of mobile charged (and possibly also neutral)
particles that exhibits collective behavior.
Note. Here 2 basic plasma properties are mentioned.
Note. Collective behavior is thus essential, but need not be dominant.
Collective behavior is dominant for ideal plasmas.
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Plasma formation – ionization processes
1. Ionization by cosmic rays
E.g. Ionosphere – a plasma layer is around the Earth from the height of
about 60 km up to the height ca 500 km that is formed due to ionization by
cosmic rays (both electromagnetic, and corpuscular), the main source of
which is the Sun. Electron density maximum of about 106 cm-3 is in the
upper F-layer (above 200 km), where electron temperature is Te ≅ 2000 K.

Note. Certain amount of mobile charge particles is in any matter around

us due to the action of ionizing radiation. Even at a small height above the
sea level, 10 free electrons and positive ions are formed per second in air
in nature. A fraction of electrons attach to molecules and negative ions are
created. Typically, there are ~103 positive ions in cm3 in the outside air
and the ratio of the positive to the negative ion number is about 1.15.

Ionization is due to the photon action is called photoionization. Photon

energy must be higher than the ionization energy Ui ( ω > U i > 3.9 eV ).
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2. Ionization in electric field (collisional)
If gas is placed in a strong electric field, existing free electrons are
accelerated and when they gain a sufficient energy to cause ionization
during collision by separation of outer orbital electrons of neutral atoms or
molecules. Electrons released by impact ionization (collisional
ionization) are again accelerated by the electric field and ionization
avalanche is formed. Thus, electric discharge occurs.
E.g. in a glow discharge at the pressure of 1 Torr, the electron density is
ne = 109 – 1011 cm-3 and electron temperature is Te ≅ 104 K.

3. Ionization by heating
Without using electric field, a plasma state may be attained by raising the
temperature of a neutral gas. Binding energy of outer electrons in an
atom/molecule is a few eV, and thus the thermal energy of electrons is
sufficient for impact ionization when electron temperature is 104 – 105 K.
Moreover, the energy emitted photons is then sufficient for
photoionization. In the thermodynamic equilibrium ionization is given by
ionization equilibrium.
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Ionization equilibrium - Saha equation [SI units]
ni ne  U 
=
2.4 ×1021 T 3/2 exp  − i  (1)
nn  k BT 
Boltzmann constant is kB = R/NA = 1.38×10-23 J/K = 8.62×10-5 eV/K, and thus
kB T = 1 eV at the temperature T = 11600 K, ionization potential is for instance
for nitrogen atom Ui = 14.5 eV (15.58 for molecule N2), for Argon it is
Ui = 15.76 eV.
The atom density in pure argon at the standard atmospheric pressure and
temperature 0°C (Loschmidt constant) is n0 = 2.6868×1025 m-3 = nn + ni ≈ nn
and according to (1) equilibrium ionization is ni/nn = 2.9×10-146. Even at
temperature of 1 eV, the argon ionization is ni/nn ≈ 0.004.
Note. Plasma temperature is mostly high, and thus is usually given in eV or in keV. It is also
practical for the comparison of temperature with ionization energies. At higher temperatures
plasma is often multiply ionized.

4. Pressure ionization
At higher densities, the orbital radius of valence electrons may be ≥ inter-
atomic distances and then valence electrons may be freed at room temperature.
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In metals at room temperature, the density of free electrons is of order
1023 cm-3. Electron Fermi energy EF is at such density
π 2  2  3 ne 
2/3

=EF   ≅ 7.9 eV 2 Te
2 me  π  , (2)
and thus electron gas in metals is degenerate. The ratio Θ =T/EF is called the
degeneration parameter. For degenerate electron gas (Θ << 1) EF is a good
estimate of electron kinetic energy.
In semiconductors, the density of free electrons and holes is much lower.
Typical example of plasma originated by pressure ionization is the interior of
burnt-out star. It is compressed to such high density that electron Fermi energy
is >> binding energy of electrons in atom, and consequently all atoms are fully
ionized.
One-component plasma (OCP) approximation – system of single species of
charged particles embedded in a uniform background of neutralizing charges.
Note. Properties of electrons and ions may differ considerably; therefore focus to one
species of charged particles is sometimes useful.
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Typical values of electron density and temperature of some plasmas
IG – interstellar gas
N – gaseous nebula
I – ionosphere
GD – glow discharge
SA– sun atmosphere
AD – arc discharge
SC – sun corona
AGN – active galactic
nucleus
MF – magnetic fusion
X – X-ray star
ICF – inertial
confinement fusion
SI – sun interior
degenerate M – metal
Fig. 1 J - Jovian interior
WD – white dwarf
rs is the ratio of mean inter-electronic distance to Bohr radius (W-S radius)
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Coupling parameter, weakly and strongly coupled plasma

Coupling parameter for OCP is the ratio of Coulomb energy at the average
interparticle distance to their average kinetic energy max(3/2 T, EF).
The average distance R of particles of the density n is
1/3
 3 
R= 
 4π n  . (3)
For ions Ri is usually called ion sphere radius or also Wigner-Seitz radius. Ion
sphere contains all bound and free electrons belonging to particular ion ⇒
atomic physics description for dense plasmas
For degenerate electrons coupling parameter Γe is expressed, as follows
1/3
e2 27/3  3  me e 2 Re
=Γe =   = 0.543 = 0.543 rS
4π e 0 Re EF 34/3 π 2/3  4π ne  4πe 0  2 aB , (4)
where aB is the Bohr radius. Average electron distance is equal to the Bohr
radius for density ne = 1.6×1024 cm-3. Coupling parameter of degenerate
electrons decreases with density!!
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For classical plasmas (particles with charge Ze) the expression is
 K
1/3
( Ze) 2  
6
n 10
=Γ = 0.0027 Z  18 −3  
2

4πe 0 RT  10 cm   T  , (5)
and thus coupling parameter rises with density and decreases with temperature.
For electrons and hydrogen ions Γ = 0.543 at the blue line in the previous
figure. Electrons are thus strongly coupled only in red hatched triangle. For
ions, Fermi energy is very small, and this hydrogen ions are strongly coupled
everywhere below the blue line.

We will mostly study classical weakly coupled plasmas. Especially for

multiply ionized plasmas, it is more probable that ions are strongly coupled.
Consequently, ion coupling parameter Γi is used as coupling indicator.

In weakly coupled plasmas, mutual potential energy of particles is small

compared to their kinetic energy, and thus its thermodynamic properties are
close to a gas and the equation of state can often be approximated by
equation of state of ideal gas.
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Plasma properties – quasi-neutrality

System is quasi-neutral, if the total charge in volumes comparable with the

cube of its scale length L is much less than total charge of all positive charges
(and absolute value of total negative charge).
Note. The scale length L of the system must be much greater than the distance,
to which negative charges may be separated from positive charges (usually
electrons from ions).

Certain energy is needed for the separation of charges of the opposite signs.
Macroscopic charge clouds may separate only to the distance, where their
thermal energy is fully converted to the potential energy.
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Simple physical model – what is the maximum thickness ∆ of an infinite planar
electron layer that can move against static ions by its full thickness? (classical
statistics is assumed)
Planar capacitor emerges with surface charge density σ
and electric field E is inside
σ= −e ne ∆ E= σ / e0
Electron potential energy is equal to its thermal energy
e 2 ne ∆ 2
U pot = −e E ∆ = = k BTe
Fig. 2 Shift of e layer e0
This ∆ is called electron Debye length λDe
1/2
 e 0 k B Te 
λDe = D =  2 
 e n e  (6)
Electron Debye length grows with the square root of electron temperature Te
and decreases with the square root of electron number density ne.
Thus, plasma is quasi-neutral at the distances that are significantly larger than
the Debye length; the quasi-neutrality condition is a scale length L ≫ λDe.
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Debye screening
Static charge is screened in plasmas, because it attracts opposite charges and
keeps away charges of the same sign.
Note. Debye derived screening in the theory of electrolytes.
We shall assume that the electron temperature Te need not be in general equal
to the ion temperature Ti. This is frequent in plasmas as (we show it later) the
energy transfer between electrons and ions is rather slow.
We shall assume that plasma may be multiply ionized (in difference the Chen
book); we denote mean ion charge by Z. Thus, the electron charge is qe = −e
and the ion charge is qi = Ze.
Electrostatic field around the charge qT placed in the coordinate origin is
described by Poisson equation
r e qT 
∆ϕ =− = ( ne − Z ni ) − δ( r )
e0 e0 e0 (7)

Let in ∞ (where ϕ = 0) the charge density is r = 0. Thus, ne = n0 = Z ni in ∞.

The thermal electron energy must greater than the Fermi energy so that the
Boltzmann statistics for electrons would be applicable. Thus,
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π   3n 
2 2 2/3

k BTe > EF =  e 
2 me  π 
Note. In metals, typical electron density is ne = 1029 m-3, then EF = 7.9 eV, for
singly ionized gas of density ne = 2.7×1025 m-3 is EF = 0.038 eV = 440 K.
In Boltzmann statistics, the probability of state occupation is ~exp(-U/kBT) ⇒
 eϕ  n0  Z eϕ 
= ne n0 exp   = ni exp  − 
 B e
k T Z  k B i 
T (8)
Electron and ion densities may now be substituted into the Poisson equation.
We shall simplify equation by linearization, we shall assume potential energy
≪ kinetic. For |x| ≪ 1, it holds exp(x) ≈ 1 + x and equation (7) is converted to
1 d  2 d ϕ  e 2 n0  1 Z 
∆ϕ
= r =   + ϕ pro r ≠ 0 (9)
r dr  dr 
2
e 0  Te Ti 
d 2 ϕ ϕ
= 2
After substitution ϕ = ϕ / r Poisson equation has the form dr 2
λD
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Potential of a static charge qT in plasma is thus expressed, as follows
 r 
qT
=ϕ exp  − 
4 p e0 r  λD  (10)
At the distance λD potential is screened to 1/e of its vacuum value.
Screening is the sum of electron screening with λDe and ion one with λDi.
Debye length λD is
k BTe e 0 k BTi e 0 k BTi e 0
λ =
Dλ +λ
−2 −2
De
−2
Di λDe =2 λDi = 2 2
=2 (11)
ne e ni Z e ne Z e
For Te > Ti/Z ion screening of a static charge dominates.
There is certain screening around every charged particle in plasma, so called
dynamic screening. The static ion screening occurs only of the particle velocity
is ≪ ion thermal velocity. If the particle is faster than the thermal ions, but
much slower than the thermal electron velocity, electron static screening is
formed, but ion screening is ≪ than for a static charge.
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Assumption included in the derivation
• We have used densities of charged particles that can be used with
reasonable accuracy only when the distances (λD in this case) are large
compared to average interparticle distance. It is usually required that
number ND of electrons in electron Debye sphere
4π 3 4π e 03/2 k B3/2 Te3/2
=ND = λDe ne 21
3 3 e 3
ne1/2 (12)
Quantity ND or its some small multiple is called plasma parameter. For
ND ≫ 1 plasma is ideal and screening is collective process.
Note. When ND <1, screening also exists, but its fluctuations are > mean
screening value.
• When Poisson equation was linearized, potential energy of charged
particles |eϕ| ≪ than their thermal energy kBTe was assumed. Surely, this
does not hold near to origin, but even the previous assumption is not valid
there. It is enough to assume that qT is so small that the inequality holds at
the average distance among electrons Re = 3 / ( 4π ne )  .
1/3
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Collective behavior
By the term collective behavior one denotes mutual particle interactions via
macroscopic electromagnetic field in contrast to microscopic fields that cause
particle interaction during binary collisions.
Due to screening, binary interactions are efficient in plasmas only up to the
distance of Debye length, but interactions on longer distances are present in
plasmas due to macroscopic electromagnetic fields formed by macroscopic
collective charges and currents. Fluctuations with wavelength > Debye length
have mainly collective character, while short-wavelength fluctuations are
mainly controlled by motion of individual particles with the predominance of
binary interactions (more in detail in the book by Ichimaru).
The speed of system variations due to binary collisions is given by the collision
frequency nc. The significance of binary interactions increases with the
collision frequency nc.
There exists a large variety of collective motions in plasmas, but the fastest is
the motion of electron cloud with respect to ions due to their mutual attraction.
For simplicity we consider ions as static homogeneous neutralizing
background (OCP approximation).
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We use the model of planar layers again (Fig. 2). The velocity of ordered
electron motion is v= d ∆ / d t and the electron equation of motion is

dv e 2 ne ∆ d2 ∆ e 2 ne
me =
−e E =
− ⇒ =
− ∆
dt e0 dt 2
e 0 me . (13)
Thus, plasma oscillations occur with the electron plasma frequency
e 2 ne
ω pe =
e 0 me (14)
Electron plasma frequency ωpe characterizes the strength of the collective
action and for ωpe > nc , the collective behavior dominates in the plasma.
The electron plasma frequency ωpe, the electron Debye length λDe and the
electron thermal velocity vTe meet the simple relation
= vTe = k BTe / me ω pe λDe
Note. When one includes also ion motion, then the frequency of plasma
ω
=
oscillations is p
2
ω 2
pe + ω
= 2
pi , where ω 2
pi Z=2 2
e ni / ( e 0 M i ) Z ω 2
pe me / M i .
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Collision frequency of charged particles
We shall assume for simplicity that the
component of velocity v0 in the direction of
motion of flying-in particle before collision is
constant (valid for large b when the alteration of
the particle motion is small).
The normal component of particle momentum is
obtained by temporal integration of force impulse
∞
Fig. 3 Collision schematics ( r̂ unit vector
∫ F (t ) d t

in direction r , b collision parameter) m v⊥ = ⊥ .
−∞
The normal force component is expressed via the relation
q q0 q q0
= F⊥ = sin q sin 3
q ,
4π ε0 r 2
4π ε0 b 2

where the relation r = b/sinθ was utilized.

Time dependence of F⊥ is given by the dependence on angle θ. A steady
motion in the direction x is assumed, and thus t = x/v0 = −r cosθ/v0 = −b
cosθ/(v0 sinθ) and d t = b d θθ/ v 0 sin 2
( )
. Consequently
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∞ π
q q0 q q0 v 0 b0
2 ∫ ∫
v⊥ = sin q (t ) d t =
3
sin q d q
4 π ε 0 m b −∞ 4 π ε 0 m b v0 0 b ,
where b0 is the Landau length 0 b = q q0 / (2 π ε 0 m v 2
0)

The collision parameter b0 corresponds to scattering to 90°, thus to the loss of

original direction of velocity. The effective cross-section for ≥ 90° is σ = π b0 .
2

The collision frequency (for large-angle scattering) is thus

n0 q 2 q02
=n L π=
n0 v 0 b 2

4 π ε 02 m 2 v30
0
(15)
Small-angle scattering
Electrostatic field – long-range force –sum of small-angle scatterings often
dominates over large-angle scattering.
The loss of original direction of motion happens probably due to many small
changes of the velocity vector earlier than one large-angle scattering event
occurs.
The collision frequency is then defined as 1 over the average time in which the
particle loses the original direction of velocity.
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History of the particle motion may be considered a random walk in the velocity
space. If N collisions happen in a certain time interval, the variation of e.g.
y component of velocity is
∆v y = ∆v y1 + ∆v y 2 +  + ∆v yN ,
and the average value is ∆v y =∆v yi = 0 . As individual collisions may be
considered uncorrelated, the dispersion of vy can be expressed
2
 
( Dv y ) = ∑ Dv yi  = ( Dv yi ) =N ( Dv y1 )
N N

∑
2 2 2
Dv y =
=  i 1=  i 1

For one collision with collision parameter b there holds

2 2
v 02 b02
( ) + ( ∆v z ) = 2
v 0 b0
( ) = 2 b2
2 2
v ⊥ = ∆v y ⇒ ∆v y1
2 2

b
Number of collisions with parameter in the interval db is d N = n0 v 0 2π b d b
and thus the total dispersion of the normal velocity component is expressed
d
( y )tot
3 2 db
0 ∫
bmax
2
∆v= π n0 v0 b= π n0 v0 b0 ln
3 2

dt b bmin
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We had to restrict the diverging integral. The lower boundary is due to the
assumption of small-angle scattering, and this is not valid for collision
parameters b less than Landau length b0. The assumption of Coulomb
interactions does not hold for large collision parameters b as the field is
reduced by the Debye screening, therefore the upper boundary is bmax = λDe.
Let us denote Λ this ratio for electron collision with thermal velocity vTe
λDe 2 π e 0 λDe me vTe 2
3
=Λ = 2
= 2 π ne λ= 3
De ND (16)
b0 e 2
If the plasma parameter ND is large, then Λ is also large. The quantity lnΛ is
called the Coulomb logarithm. It is the ratio of collision frequency due to
small-angle scattering to collision frequency of scattering to angles ≥ 90°.
Collision frequency for collisions of electrons of velocity v0 with electrons is
8 π n0 e 4
= n ln Λ
( 4 π e 0 ) me v0
2 2 3 . (17)
Collision frequency of Coulomb collisions is ∼ v−3 and mean free path is ∼ v4,
thus relatively fast electrons from velocity distribution tail do not collide
frequently and they can fly relatively long distance without direction alteration.
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The collision frequency of electrons with thermal velocity v0 = vTe =
(kBTe/me)1/2 is called the effective collision frequency
8 π ne e 4
= nc ln Λ
( 4 π e 0 ) me ( kB Te )
2 3/2
1/2 (18)
The ratio of the effective collision frequency to the plasma frequency is
nc 1 ln Λ ln ( 3 N D / 2 )
= = ( 0 1 for N D 2 1)
ω pe 2 pl n0 De3
3N D / 2 (19)
For large ND, the collective behavior characterized by ωpe dominates over the
impact of binary interactions characterized by nc. Such plasma is called ideal
plasma. Some phenomena can be then described in the approximation of
collisionless plasma.

Ideal plasma – is quasi-neutral and collective effects caused by macroscopic

charges and currents dominate in it.
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The ratio of the potential to the kinetic energy

Let’s compare electron energy in field of the nearest electron, placed in the
distance Re = [3/(4π ne)]1/3 with its kinetic energy (non-degenerate plasma is
assumed)
e2 e 2 ne1/3 3
Wp  = 1/3 W  k BTe
4p e 0 Re 3 ( 4 p ) e 0 2/3 k
2
2/3
Wp 2 3 3
e n1/2
 2
   =
e
(20)
Wk 9  4p e k T 
3/2 3/2 3/2
0 B e 9 N D2/3
In ideal plasma ND ≫ 1 and kinetic energy of particles is thus ≫ their binding
(potential) energy. Ideal plasma is weakly coupled. Ideal plasma is in this
respect similar to a gas, one often speaks about ionized gas. The equation of
state of ideal gas is then a good approximation of electron equation of state in
ideal plasma. If even ions are weakly coupled (Γi << 1), then the equation of
state of ideal gas may be used also for ions.
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Various types of plasmas
Plasma in nature
Ideal - discharges; ionosphere; solar wind; outer layers of stars; interstellar
gas
Ideal or non-ideal – star interiors (center of sun is nearly ideal plasma
r = 150 g/cm3, T = 1.35 keV, Γ = 0.14)
Non-ideal - electron gas in metals (degenerate plasma), electrolytes, centers
of large planets (Jovian planets)

Plasma in laboratory
Ideal - discharges of various types (vacuum tubes, discharges for gas laser
pumping, pinches, capillary discharge); MHD generators; ion
engines, laser plasma from gas targets
Ideal or non-ideal - laser plasma from solid (or liquid) targets
Non-ideal – supercold plasma (plasma with temperature ca 1 K can be
obtained by non-linear photoionization of laser-cooled vapor, electron densities
of 106-109 cm-3)
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Number of particles (electrons + ions) in Debye sphere of radius λD
Taken from R.P. Drake, High-Energy-Density Physics, Springer 2006

(a) Plasma of materials with high atomic number, where mean ion charge
Z = 0.63 √Te is assumed (Te is in eV).
(b) Plasma of materials with low atomic number, where mean ion charge Z=4
is assumed
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Typical parameters of various types of plasmas – here always n λD3 > 1 and
ωpe > nei.
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Typical temperatures and densities
of various plasma types