Plasma conductivity

and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

Plasma conductivity and diffusion

Pavel Souček

24. 10. 2011

1/36
 Plasma conductivity
Table of Contents and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know
Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

2/36
 Plasma conductivity
Table of Contents and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know
Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

Introduction 3/36
 Plasma conductivity
Langevin equation and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Before we wander into the realm of plasma conductivity and Introduction

diffusion it is convenient to introduce a simple form of the Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion
equation of motion for cold and weakly ionized plasma.
Good to know
I in a weakly ionized plasma the number density of the
charged particles is much smaller than that of neutral
particles → charged-neutral interactions are dominant
I only electric and magnetic force is taken into account
(gravitational field and forces caused by pressure
gradients are neglected)
Therefore the macroscopic equation of motion for electrons
under the action of Lorentz force and collisional forces can be
written as:
Due
me = −e (E + ue × B) + (Fcoll )e , (1)
Dt
where ue (r, t) is the average electron velocity and (Fcoll )e is the
collision term.

Introduction 4/36
 Plasma conductivity
Langevin equation II and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction
The macroscopic collision term (Fcoll )e can be expressed as Plasma conductivity

the product of the average electron momentum with an Plasma diffusion

effective constant collision frequency νc for momentum transfer Good to know

between the electrons and the heavy (neutral) particles,

(Fcoll )e = −νc me ue (2)

In this expression we are neglecting the average motion of the

neutral particles, as they are much more massive than the
electrons (i.e. velocities of individual particles are random and
their average is 0).
Using this expression for the collision term, we obtain the
Langevin equation:

Due
me = −e (E + ue × B) − νc me ue (3)
Dt

Introduction 5/36
 Plasma conductivity
Collision term and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

What is the physical meaning of the collision term? Plasma diffusion

Good to know
In the absence of electric and magnetic fields the Langevin
equation (3) reduces to

Due
= −νc ue (4)
Dt
whose solution is

ue (t) = ue (0)exp(−νc t) (5)

Thus, the electron-neutral collisions decrease the average

electron velocity exponentially, at a rate governed by the
collision frequency.

Introduction 6/36
 Plasma conductivity
Langevin equation III and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

An equation similar to the Langevin equation for electrons can Good to know

be written also for ions

Dui
mi = Ze (E + ui × B) + (Fcoll )i (6)
Dt
where ui is the average ion velocity and Ze the ion charge.
In many cases of interest, as in high-frequency phenomena,
we can neglect the ion motion and assume ui = 0, since ion
mass is typically about 103 or 104 times grater than the
electron mass. The type of plasma, in which only the electron
motion is important, is usually called a Lorentz gas.

Introduction 7/36
 Plasma conductivity
Linearization of the Langevin equation and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity
In the form presented (3) the Langevin equation contains
Plasma diffusion
nonlinear terms Good to know
I the total derivative contains term (ue · ∇)ue , which is
called the inertial term in fluid mechanics. The omission of
this term is justified when the average velocity and its
space derivatives are small, or when ue is normal to its
gradient (in traverse waves)
I in the term ue × B we can separate the magnetic flux
density B(r, t) into two parts
B(r, t) = B0 + B0 (r, t) (7)
0
where B0 is constant and B (r, t) is the variable component, so
that
q (E + ue × B) = q E + ue × B0 + ue × B0


(8)

Introduction 8/36
 Plasma conductivity
Linearization of the Langevin equation II and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

in cases where
ue × B0  |E| (9)
0
the term ue × B can be neglected, so that the Langevin
equation becomes

∂ue
me = −e (E + ue × B0 ) − νc me ue (10)
∂t

Introduction 9/36
 Plasma conductivity
Plane waves and diffusion

Pavel Souček

A case of practical interest is the one where variables E, B0 and Introduction

Plasma conductivity
ue vary harmonically in time and space. Any complex and Plasma diffusion
physically realizable wave motion can be synthesized in terms Good to know
of superposition of plane waves.
Let us therefore consider solution in the form of

E, B0 , ue ∝ exp[i(k · r − ωt)] (11)

where ω denotes the wave angular frequency and k is the wave

propagation vector (normal to the wave front)
After some mathematics we arrive to

|ue × (k × E)/ω|  |E| (12)

Hence the nonlinear term can be neglected if

|ue |  |ω/k | (13)

Introduction 10/36
 Plasma conductivity
Plane waves II and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

The term (ω/k ) represents the phase velocity of the plane

wave. Since this term is usually of the order of the speed of
light, whereas the magnitude of the mean velocity of electrons
ue is much less, the nonlinear term can be generally neglected.
However, in cases of resonance ω/k is very small, whereas ue
becomes large. Under these conditions the nonlinear terms are
important and a nonlinear analysis must be used.

Introduction 11/36
 Plasma conductivity
Table of Contents and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know
Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

Plasma conductivity 12/36

 Plasma conductivity
DC case and diffusion

Pavel Souček
Isotropic Plasma In the absence of magnetic field the
Langevin equation becomes Introduction

Plasma conductivity

−eE − me νc ue = 0 (14) Plasma diffusion

Good to know
The electric current density is
J = −ene ue (15)
Which can be combined to
ne e2
J= E (16)
me νc
Do you see the Ohm’s law?

ne e2
σ0 = (17)
me νc
The electron mobility is defined as the ratio of the mean
velocity to the applied field. In our case
ue e σ0
Me = =− =− (18)
E me νc ne e
Plasma conductivity 13/36
 Plasma conductivity
Anisotropic Magnetoplasma and diffusion

Pavel Souček
In the presence of magnetic field the plasma becomes spatially
anisotropic. The Langevin equation can be written as Introduction

Plasma conductivity

−e(E + ue × B0 ) − me νc ue (19) Plasma diffusion

Good to know
As for the current density
J = σ0 (E + ue × B0 ) (20)
This is the simplified Ohm’s law.
At this point we can consider a useful result which arises when
the collisions are negligible. When νc → 0 the DC conductivity
becomes very large (σ0 → ∞) so that from the previous
equation
E + u e × B0 = 0 (21)
In this case, taking the cross product of (21) with B0 and noting
that
(ue × B0 ) × B0 = −ue⊥ B02 (22)
we obtain
E × B0
ue⊥ = (23)
B02
Plasma conductivity 14/36
 Plasma conductivity
Anisotropic Magnetoplasma II and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity
This result shows us that in the absence of collisions, the
Plasma diffusion
electrons have a drift velocity ue⊥ perpendicular to both the Good to know
electric and the magnetic fields. This result is independent on
particle mass or charge, so the same can be said for ions.
Thus there is no electric current (J = 0) associated with their
motion. When collisional effects are not negligible, the motions
of the ions suffers a larger retardation than that of electrons as
a result of collisions. In this case, there is an electric current
given by (assuming ne = ni )

J⊥ = ene (ui⊥ − ue⊥ ) (24)

which is perpendicular to both E and B0 , known as the Hall

current. Since ue⊥ > ui⊥ , this current is in the direction
opposite to the drift velocity of both types of particles.

Plasma conductivity 15/36

 Plasma conductivity
Anisotropic Magnetoplasma III and diffusion

Pavel Souček

If we now return to the simplified Ohm’s law (20) and define a Introduction
DC conductivity tensor S by the equation Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion
J=S·E (25) Good to know

considering Cartesian coordinates with the z axis paralel to the

magnetic field we reach after some maths to
 
νc2 νc Ωce
− 0
   
Jx 2 2
 (νc +Ωce ) 2 2
(νc +Ωce )  Ex
2
Jy  = σ0  νc Ωce
0 Ey (26)
νc  
 (ν 2 +Ω2 ) (νc2 +Ω2ce )
Jz c ce
Ez
0 0 1

where Ωce denotes the electron cyclotron frequency.

The DC conductivity tensor is therefore given by
 
σ⊥ −σH 0
S =  σH σ⊥ 0 (27)
0 0 σk

Plasma conductivity 16/36

 Plasma conductivity
Anisotropic Magnetoplasma IV and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

Plasma conductivity 17/36

 Plasma conductivity
Anisotropic Magnetoplasma V and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity
I when Ωce /νc is relatively Plasma diffusion

large almost all current is Good to know

produced along the

magnetic field lines
I σ0 increases as νc
decreases and is
independent on the
magnitude of B and
therefore of Ωce . Therefore
in a rarefied plasma in a
relatively strong magnetic
filed, the electric current
flows essentially along the
magnetic field lines

Plasma conductivity 18/36

 Plasma conductivity
AC conductivity and diffusion

Pavel Souček
Let us consider the case when the electric field E(r,t) and the
mean electron velocity ue (r,t) vary harmonically in time as Introduction

Plasma conductivity
exp(−iωt). We have previously seen that for time disturbances
Plasma diffusion
∂/∂t is replaced by −iω. Therefore the linearized Langevin
Good to know
equation becomes
−iωme ue = −e (E + ue × B0 ) − νc me ue (28)
This equation is very similar to equation for anisotropic
magnetoplasma, except for the change in collision frequency νc
to (νc − iω). The solution is therefore also a similar tensor with
ω2
σ⊥ = σ0 (29)
(ω 2 − Ω2ce )
iωΩce
σH = σ0 (30)
(ω 2− Ω2ce )
ne e2
σ0 = i (31)
me ω
A complex conductivity means that there is a difference
between the current density and the applied field.
Plasma conductivity 19/36
 Plasma conductivity
Conductivity with ion motion and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

The evaluation of the conductivity tensor, when the contribution

due to the motion of the ions is included, can be performed in a
straightforward way. The linearized Langevin equation is solved
for all the particles and the total conductivity tensor is simply
X
S= Sα (32)
α

Plasma conductivity 20/36

 Plasma conductivity
Plasma as a dielectric medium and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Plasma can also be treated as a dielectric medium Introduction

characterized by a dielectric tensor, in which the internal Plasma conductivity
particle behavior is not considered. Instead of the Langevin Plasma diffusion
equation let us consider the Maxwell equation Good to know

 
∂E
∇ × B = µ0 J + 0 (33)
∂t

and incorporate the conductivity tensor S defined as

J=S·E (34)

After some calculations we can rewrite the Maxwell equation as

∇ × B = −iωµ0  · E (35)

where  
iS
 = 0 1 + (36)
ω0
is called the dielectric tensor.
Plasma conductivity 21/36
 Plasma conductivity
Plasma as a dielectric medium and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity
The dielectric tensor can be written in matrix form as
Plasma diffusion
 
1 −2 0 Good to know

S = 2 1 0 (37)
0 0 3

where the following notation was introduced

i
1 = 1 + σ⊥ (38)
ω0
i
2 = σH (39)
ω0
i
3 = 1 + σ0 (40)
ω0

Plasma conductivity 22/36

 Plasma conductivity
Table of Contents and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know
Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

Plasma diffusion 23/36

 Plasma conductivity
Free electron diffusion and diffusion

Pavel Souček
The diffusion of particles results from the presence of a
pressure gradient, which results in a force which tends to Introduction

Plasma conductivity
smooth out any inhomogenities.
Plasma diffusion
To deduce the expression for the electron diffusion coefficient
Good to know
for a warm weakly ionized plasma we will use the momentum
transport equation. Let us consider, that the inhomogenities
are very small, so that they can be considered first order
quantities. This means that the mean velocity of electrons ue is
also a first order quantity, and considering that the velocity
distribution is approximately isotropic, we can replace the
pressure tensor by a scalar pressure pe .
For a slightly nonuniform electron number density, we can write
ne (r, t) = n0 + ne0 (r, t) (41)
pe (r, t) = ne (r, t)kTe = (n0 + ne0 )kTe (42)
For the momentum transport equation we can write
 
∂ue
n e me + (ue · ∇)ue = −∇pe − ne me νc ue (43)
∂t
Plasma diffusion 24/36
 Plasma conductivity
Free electron diffusion II and diffusion

Pavel Souček
After linearization, performing a divergence and substituting
form continuity equation we obtain Introduction

Plasma conductivity

∂ne0 1 ∂ 2 ne0 Plasma diffusion

= De ∇2 ne0 − (44) Good to know
∂t νc ∂t 2
where we have defined the electron free diffusion coefficient
kTe
De = (45)
me νc
When the rate of change in the number density is slow
compared to the collision frequency, the last term in (44) can
be neglected and the diffusion equation becomes

∂ne0
= De ∇2 ne0 (46)
∂t
Lastly we can write the linearized electron flux (Γe = n0 ue ) as

Γe = −De ∇ne0 (47)

Plasma diffusion 25/36

 Plasma conductivity
Electron diffusion in a magnetic field and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction
As in previous (way back) slide dealing with conductivity in
Plasma conductivity
anisotropic magnetoplasma a magnetic force term is added Plasma diffusion
into the equation. This inclusion into the momentum transfer Good to know
equation leads to very similar equation as in this case and so
leads to a very similar equation. Instead of

J=S·E (48)

we come to an analogous expression

Γe = −D · ∇ne0 (49)

where D is the tensor coefficient for free diffusion given in the

matrix form by  
D⊥ DH 0
D = −DH D⊥ 0  (50)
0 0 Dk

Plasma diffusion 26/36

 Plasma conductivity
Electron diffusion in a magnetic field II and diffusion

Pavel Souček
where the following notation is used
Introduction

ν2 Plasma conductivity
D⊥ = 2 c 2 De (51) Plasma diffusion
(νc + Ωce )
Good to know

νc Ωce
DH = 2 De (52)
(νc + Ω2ce )
kTe
Dk ≡ De = (53)
me νc
A diffusion equation for np rimee in a constant and uniform
magnetic field can be derived from the continuity equation in
the form
∂ne0
+ ∇ · Γe = 0 (54)
∂t
by substituting Γe from (49) and calculating in the Cartesian
coordinates to
∂ne0
 2 0
∂ 2 ne0 ∂ 2 ne0

∂ ne
= D⊥ 2
+ 2
+ De (55)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z 2

Plasma diffusion 27/36

 Plasma conductivity
Electron diffusion in a magnetic field III and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

Since Db ot < De and since Db ot decreases with increasing

values of Ωce /νc (similarly to σ⊥ ) the diffusion of particles in a
direction perpendicular to B is always less than that in the
direction parallel to B. For values of Ωce much larger than νc ,
the diffusion of particles across the magnetic field lines is
freatly reduced. Note that for Ωce  νc we have approximately
D⊥ ∝ 1/B 2 and DH ∝ 1/B.

Plasma diffusion 28/36

 Plasma conductivity
Ambipolar diffusion and diffusion

Pavel Souček

We have seen that the steady state momentum equation, in the Introduction

absence of electromagnetic forces and when the temperature Plasma conductivity

is constant, gives the following diffusion equation for the Plasma diffusion

Good to know
electrons
Γe = −De ∇0e (56)
where the electron free diffusion coefficient is given by

kTe
De = (57)
me νce
The subscript e has been added to νc to indicate that the
effective collision frequency νce refers to electron-neutral
collisions. If we consider equations for ions, we get

Γi = −Di ∇0i (58)

kTi
Di = (59)
mi νci

Plasma diffusion 29/36

 Plasma conductivity
Ambipolar diffusion II and diffusion

Pavel Souček
Since the diffusion coefficient is inversely proportional to
particle mass, the electrons tend to diffuse faster leaving an Introduction

Plasma conductivity
excess of positive charge behind them. This gives rise to a
Plasma diffusion
space charge electric field, which points in the same direction Good to know
as the particle diffusion, and which accelerates the ions and
slows the electrons.
For most problems of plasma diffusion, however, the space
charge electric field cannot be neglected. According to Maxwell
equation
ρ e(ni − ne )
∇·E= = (60)
0 0
it is clear, that an electric field is present whenever the
densities differ. To estimate the importance of the space
charge electric field let us use dimensional analysis. Let L
represent a characteristic length over which the number
density changes significantly. Thus, from the Maxwell equation
(60) we may write
enL
E∼ (61)
0
Plasma diffusion 30/36
 Plasma conductivity
Ambipolar diffusion III and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity
so that the electric force per unit mass fE is in the order Plasma diffusion

Good to know
eE e2 nL
fE = ∼ (62)
m m0

The diffusion force per unit mass fD obtained from (56) is in the
order
kT kTn
fD = |∇n| ∼ (63)
mn0 mn0 L
Therefore, the space charge can be neglected only if fE  fD ,
or equivalently if
0 kT
L2  = λ2D (64)
n0 e2
where λD is the Debye length.

Plasma diffusion 31/36

 Plasma conductivity
Ambipolar diffusion IV and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion
2
I the condition L  λ2D is Good to know

rarely satisfied and so

cannot be neglected
I the combined diffusion of
electrons and ions, forced
by a space charge E field.
is known as ambipolar
diffusion two kinds of
particles tend to reach a
diffusion rate which is
intermediate in value to
their free diffusion rates

Plasma diffusion 32/36

 Plasma conductivity
Ambipolar diffusion V and diffusion

Pavel Souček
The ambipolar diffusion coefficient and equation can be
calculated similarly to free diffusion counterparts and setting Introduction

ne0 = ni0 we obtain Plasma conductivity

∂n0 Plasma diffusion

= Da ∇ 2 n 0 (65) Good to know

∂t
and
k (Te + Ti )
Da = (66)
me νce + me νci
This situation (ne0 = ni0 ) is called the perfect ambipolar diffusion.
A less restrictive simplifying approximation would be

ni0 = Cne0 (67)

where C is constant. In this case we obtain

∂ne0
= Da ∇2 ne0 (68)
∂t
and
k (Te + CTi )
Da = (69)
me νce + Cme νci
Plasma diffusion 33/36
 Plasma conductivity
Table of Contents and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know
Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

Good to know 34/36

 Plasma conductivity
Good to know and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

I Langevin equation
I what’s the collision term good for
I Ohm’s law
I often tensors
I dependence on plasma and cyclotron frequency
I diffusion D⊥ ∼ 1/B 2
I ambipolar diffusion

Good to know 35/36

 Plasma conductivity
Thank you for attention and diffusion

Pavel Souček

Introduction

Plasma conductivity

Plasma diffusion

Good to know

Good to know 36/36