Plasma parameter: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:35, 19 October 2019

Revision as of 12:48, 12 November 2019

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where

:''n'' is the [[number density]] of electrons,

:λ_D is the [[Debye length]].

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Note that the word parameter is usually used in plasma physics to refer to bulk plasma properties in general: see [[plasma parameters]].

An alternative definition of this parameter is given by the average number of electrons in a [[plasma (physics)|plasma]] contained within a [[Debye sphere]] (a sphere of radius the [[Debye length]]). This definition of the plasma parameter is more frequently (and appropriately) called the Debye number, and is denoted <math> N_D</math>. In this context, the plasma parameter is defined as

This definition of the plasma parameter is more frequently (and appropriately) called the Debye number, and is denoted <math> N_D</math>. In this context, the plasma parameter is defined as

:<math> N_D = \frac {4\pi}{3} n \lambda_D^3 </math>