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Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry
Published on: August 1, 2017
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Plasma dynamics and vacuum pair creation using the Dirac-Heisenberg-Wigner formalism.
Haidar Al-Naseri1, Jens Zamanian1, Gert Brodin1
1Department of Physics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Physical Review. E
|August 20, 2021
Summary
We developed equations for Wigner functions in strong electromagnetic fields. This allows studying plasma waves and Schwinger pair production, revealing field-strength dependence on particle momentum spread.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Field Theory
- Plasma Physics
- Strong Field Physics
Background:
- The behavior of matter under strong electromagnetic fields is crucial for understanding extreme physical conditions.
- The Wigner function offers a phase-space description of quantum systems, useful for analyzing field interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To derive a system of coupled partial differential equations for the equal-time Wigner function in strong electromagnetic fields.
- To analyze plasma wave propagation and Schwinger pair production in the electrostatic limit.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Dirac-Heisenberg-Wigner formalism to derive the Wigner function equations.
- Applied Ampère's law and the local density approximation for specific case studies.
- Derived dispersion relations for wave propagation and analyzed pair production rates.
Main Results:
- A system of four coupled partial differential equations for the Wigner function in the electrostatic limit was obtained.
- Investigated linearized wave propagation in plasma, including nonzero vacuum expectation values, and derived the dispersion relation.
- Studied Schwinger pair production, finding its rate's dependence on perpendicular momentum is influenced by the electric field strength.
Conclusions:
- The derived formalism provides a framework for studying quantum systems in strong electromagnetic fields.
- The results offer insights into plasma dynamics and particle creation mechanisms under extreme conditions.
- The perpendicular momentum spread of produced pairs is sensitive to the applied electric field strength.
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