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The expansion of a collisionless plasma into a plasma of lower density

Abstract:
This paper considers the asymptotic and numerical solution of a simple model for the expansion of a collisionless plasma into a plasma of lower density. The dependence on the density ratio of qualitative and quantitative features of solutions of the well-known cold-ion model is explored. In the cold-ion limit, we find that a singularity develops in the ion density in finite time unless the density ratio is zero or close to unity. The classical cold-ion model may cease to be valid when such a singularity occurs and we then regularize the model by the finite ion-temperature Vlasov-Poisson system. Numerical evidence suggests the emergence of a multi-modal velocity distribution.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1063/1.4802933

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Mathematical Institute
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Mathematical Institute
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Mathematical Institute
Role:
Author


More from this funder
Funding agency for:
Ockendon, J


Publisher:
American Institute of Physics
Journal:
Physics of Plasmas More from this journal
Volume:
20
Issue:
5
Pages:
052101-052101
Publication date:
2013-05-01
DOI:
EISSN:
1089-7674
ISSN:
1070-664X


Pubs id:
pubs:410011
UUID:
uuid:e0c4ffe1-008f-4341-a6e3-4f82c12ea713
Local pid:
pubs:410011
Source identifiers:
410011
Deposit date:
2013-11-16
ARK identifier:

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