Lecture 3 Plasma Physics

Date: 21.09.
2020
Lecture 3
Plasma Physics (Phys 403)
Debye shielding:
The Debye length λD which measures the shielding distance or thickness of
the sheath is
Ø(x) = Ø0exp(-x/λD) (1)
 0 K BT 1
Where , D  (
ne2
) 2
(2)
Note that as the density is increased, λD decreases, as one would expect,

since each layer of plasma contains more electrons. Furthermore, λD
increases with increasing KBTe.
The useful forms of equation (2) are:
λD = 69(T/n)1/2 m, T in 0k (3)
λD = 7430(KBT/n)1/2 m, KBT in eV. (4)
The Plasma Parameter:

The picture of Debye shielding is valid only if there are enough particles in
the charged cloud.
Clearly, if there are only one or two particles in the sheath region, Debye
shielding would not be a satisfactory valid concept.
We can compute the number ND of particles in a Debye sphere:
4
n  N D / V  N D / 3D
3
1 1
4 4 T
Or, N D  3D n  n[69( ) 2 ]3  1.38  106 T 3 / 2 / n 2
3 3 n
In addition to λD << L , the dimension of the plasma system collective

behavior requires : ND >> 1.
Criteria for Plasmas:

We have given two conditions ( quasineutrality and collective behavior)
that an ionized gas must satisfy to be called a plasma.
A third condition has to do with collisions. The weakly ionized gas in a jet
exhaust, for example, does not qualify as a plasma because the charged
particles collide so frequently with neutral atoms that their motion is
controlled by ordinary hydrodynamic forces rather than by electromagnetic
forces.
If ω is the frequency of typical plasma oscillations and τ is the mean time

between collisions with neutral atoms, we require ω τ >1 for the gas to
behave like a plasma rather than a neutral gas.
Thus, the plasma must satisfy three conditions are:
λD << L → quasineutrality condition
ND >> 1 → collective behavior
ω τ >1 → collision condition.

Problems assigned in this chapter: 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, and 1.8
Problem 1.1: Compute the density (in units of m-3) of an ideal gas under the
following conditions:
(a) At 00 C and 760 Torr pressure (1 Torr = 1 mm Hg). This is called the
Loschmidt number.
(b) In a vacuum of 10-3 Torr at room temperature (200C).
(a) At standard temperature and pressure, a mole of an ideal gas

contains 6.022×1023 molecules (Avogadro’s number) and occupies
22.4 liters.
Hence the number per m3 i.e., density of an ideal gas at 00C and 760
Torr is
N 0 6.022  10 23
n0   2
 2.66  10 25 m  3
V0 2.24  10
Since,
22.4liters =22.4×1000c.c.=22.4×103cm3
=22.4×103×10-6m3=22.4×10-3m3=2.24×10-2m3.
(b)
We know, PV = NRT → N = PV/RT

N P
Thus, N1   1 → N1 is the density of gas at room temperature.
V RT1
N1 P P PT
Hence,  ( 1 ) /( 0 )  1 0
n0 RT1 RT0 P0T1
P1T0
N1  n0   [(2.66  10 25 )  (10  3 )  (273)] /[760  (273  20)]  3.30  1019 m  3
P0T1
Problem 1.5:
Derive Ø = Ø0 exp(-x/λD), where
1 n0 e 2 1 1 1 1
 (  ) 2  2
 2
D 0 K BTe K BTi  De  Di
When both electrons and ions will follow the Boltzmann relation.
If Ti and Te are the temperatures of ions and electrons in a plasma

respectively, then from Boltzmann’s distribution function we can write
ne = n0eeØ/KBTe and
ni = n0e-eØ/KBTi
Where, ni = ne = n0 at x = infinity.
The Poisson equation is then given by

 02  n(qi ni  qe ne )  n0e[ee / KBT  ee / K T ]
e B i
For eØ << KBTe, KBTi

d 2 e e 1 1 (1)
 0 2  n0e[1      1     ]  n0 e 2 (  )
dx K BTe K BTi K BTe K BTi
Define the electron and ion Debye length as

 0 K BTe,i 1
De,i  ( )2
n0 e 2
The total Debye length λD is found by

1 1 1
 
2
D 
2
De 2Di
So, equation (1) can be written as

d 2 1 1 
 ( 2  2 )  2  k 2
dx 2
De Di D
Where, k2 = 1/λD2
d 2
So,  k 2 (2)
dx2
The general solution of the equation is
Ø(x) = A e-kx + B ekx (3)
When x = 0, then Ø(x) =Ø0(x) and Ø0(x) = A + B
When x = , then B = 0
S0, Ø0(x) = A
Thus, Ø(x) = Ø0(x) e-kx = Ø0(x) e-x/λD

1 n0e 2 1 1
Where,  (  )
 2
D 0 K BTe K BTi
1 n0e 2 1  0 K BTi 1
If Ti <<Te ;  ( ) and D  ( ) 2
2D 0 K BTi n0e 2
1 n0e 2 1  0 K BTe 1
If Te <<Ti ;  ( ) and D  ( )2
2D 0 K BTe n0e 2
So, λD is determined by the temperature of the colder species.

Applications of Plasma Physics:
Plasma can be characterized by the two parameters n and KBT. Plasma
applications depend on an extremely wide range of n and KBT. n varies over
28 orders of magnitude (106 – 1034 m-3). KBT varies over 7 orders of
magnitude (0.1 – 106 eV).
Some applications:
1. Cas Discharges ( Gaseous Electronics): The earliest work with

plasmas was that of Langmuir, Tonks, and their collaborators in
1920’s.This research was inspired by the need to develop vacuum
tubes that could carry large currents , and therefore had to be filled
with ionized gases. The research was done with KBTe = 2 eV and n
varies from 1014 – 1018. Shielding phenomenon was observed
surrounding the electrode.
Nowadays, Gas discharges are encountered in mercury rectifiers,
spark gaps, welding arcs, neon and fluorescent light and lightning
discharges.
2. Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion: Modern plasma Physics had it
beginning s around 1952, when it was proposed that
The hydrogen bomb fusion reaction be controlled to make a reactor.
The principal reactions , which involve deuterium (D) and Tritium (T)
atoms are as follows.
D + D → 3He + n + 3.2 MeV
D + D → T + P + 4.0 MeV
D + T → 4He + n + 17.6 MeV.
The cross-section for these fusion reactions is possible only for
incident energies above 5 KeV. Accelerated beams of deuterons
bombarding a target will not work, because most of the deuterons will
lost their energy by scattering before undergoing a fusion reaction.
It is necessary to create plasma in which the thermal energies are in
the 10 KeV range.
The problem of heating and containing such a plasma is responsible
for the rapid growth of the science of plasma physics since 1952. The
problem is still unsolved, and most of the active research in plasma
physics is directed toward the solution of this problem.
3. Space Physics: Another important application of plasma physics is in
the study of the earth’s environment in space. A continuous stream of
charged particles called the solar wind , impinges on the earth’s
magnetosphere ( a comet shaped region surrounding the earth –
600,000 km extended from the sun). It shields us from this radiation
and is distorted by it in the process. Typical parameters in the solar
wind are n = 5×106 m-3, KBTi = 10 eV, KBTe = 50 eV, B = 5×10-9T, and
drift velocity is 300km/sec.
The ionosphere extending from an altitude 50 km to 10 earth
radii, is populated by a weakly ionized plasma with
n = 1012m-3, T = 10-1 eV.
The Van-Allen radiation belts are composed of charged
particles trapped by the earth’s magnetic field. Here,
N 109m-3, KBTe 1 KeV, KBTi = 1 eV and B = 500×10-9T.
4. Modern Astrophysics: Stellar interiors and atmospheres are hot

enough to be in the plasma state. The temperature of the core of the
sun is about 2 KeV. Thermonuclear reactions occurring at this
temperature are responsible for the sun’s radiation.
The solar corona is a tenuous plasma with temperature up to
200 eV. The interstellar medium contains ionized hydrogen
with n 106 m-3. Various plasma theories have been used to
explain the acceleration of cosmic rays.
Although the stars in a galaxy are not charged, they behave
like particles in a plasma. And plasma kinetic theory has been
used to explain the developments of galaxies.
5. MHD energy conversion and ion propulsion:
Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy conversion utilizes a dense
plasma jet propelled across a magnetic field to generate electricity.
The Lorentz force qv×B where v is the jet velocity, causes the
ions to drift upward and electrons downwards, charging the
two electrodes to different potentials. Electrical current can
then be drawn from the electrodes ( Fig: 1).
The same principle in reverse has been used to develop
engines for interplanetary missions. In the Fig: 2 , a current is
driven through a plasma by applying a voltage to the two
electrodes. The j×B force shoots the plasma out of the rocket,
and the ensuing reaction force accelerates the rocket.
Fig: 1
Fig:2
6. Solid State Plasmas: The free electrons and holes in
semiconductors constitute a plasma exhibiting the same sort of
oscillations and instabilities as a gaseous plasma.
Plasmas injected into Insb have been particularly useful in studies of
these phenomena. Because of the lattice effects , the effective
collision frequency is much less than one would expect in a solid with
n = 1029 m-3.
Furthermore, the holes in a semiconductor can have very low
effective mass- little as 0.02 me and therefore have high cyclotron
frequencies even in moderate magnetic fields. If one were to
calculate ND for a solid state plasma, it would be less than unity
because of the low temperature and high density.
Quantum Mechanical effect however, give the plasma an effective
temperature high enough to make ND respectively large.
7. Gas Laser: The most common method to pump a gas laser- that is, to
invert the population in the states that give rise to light amplification-
is to use gas discharge. This can be a low-pressure glow discharge for
a dc laser or a high-pressure avalanche discharge in a pulsed laser.
The He-Ne lasers commonly used for alignment and surveying and the
Ar and Kr lasers used in light shows are examples of dc gas lasers. The
powerful co2 laser is finding commercial application as a cutting tool.

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Date: 21.09.

Ø(x) = Ø0exp(-x/λD) (1)

Note that as the density is increased, λD decreases, as one would expect,

The useful forms of equation (2) are:

λD = 7430(KBT/n)1/2 m, KBT in eV. (4)

The Plasma Parameter:

In addition to λD << L , the dimension of the plasma system collective

Criteria for Plasmas:

If ω is the frequency of typical plasma oscillations and τ is the mean time

Thus, the plasma must satisfy three conditions are:

λD << L → quasineutrality condition

ND >> 1 → collective behavior

ω τ >1 → collision condition.

(b) In a vacuum of 10-3 Torr at room temperature (200C).

(a) At standard temperature and pressure, a mole of an ideal gas

We know, PV = NRT → N = PV/RT

If Ti and Te are the temperatures of ions and electrons in a plasma

The Poisson equation is then given by

For eØ << KBTe, KBTi

Define the electron and ion Debye length as

The total Debye length λD is found by

So, equation (1) can be written as

The general solution of the equation is

Ø(x) = A e-kx + B ekx (3)

When x = 0, then Ø(x) =Ø0(x) and Ø0(x) = A + B

Thus, Ø(x) = Ø0(x) e-kx = Ø0(x) e-x/λD

So, λD is determined by the temperature of the colder species.

1. Cas Discharges ( Gaseous Electronics): The earliest work with

4. Modern Astrophysics: Stellar interiors and atmospheres are hot

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