Collisions and Langmuir waves in nonideal plasmas

Abstract

Langmuir waves and particle-particle collisions in an equilibrium two-component plasma consisting of nondegenerate electrons and singly charged ions are studied by molecular dynamics simulation. Dispersion of frequency and damping rate is determined for Langmuir waves. A method is outlined for extending the theory of Langmuir waves developed for ideal plasmas to nonideal plasmas. Conductivity and dynamic collision frequency are determined as functions of perturbation frequency. Relaxation of electron and ion energy in nonequilibrium plasmas is analyzed.