The unbounded two-dimensional guiding-centre plasma

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Abstract

The thermal mean-field equilibrium of a translation-invariant, unbounded one-component guiding-centre plasma is studied by analytical techniques. A variational principle is constructed. It is shown that only radial symmetric, decreasing density profiles occur. Prescribing the total number of gyro centres N∊(0,∞), the energy E ∊(E0,∞) and the canonical angular momentum M ∊ (0, ∞] uniquely determines a profile. Metastable or unstable profiles do not exist. A simple algebraic relation betweenN, M, the guiding-centre temperature β-1and the characteristic Larmor frequency w is derived. This explains Williamson’s computer-based observations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11-29
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Plasma Physics
Volume54
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1995

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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