Kinetic equation for a weakly interacting classical electron gas

M. C. Marchetti, T. R. Kirkpatrick, J. R. Dorfman, E. G.D. Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

A kinetic equation is derived for the two-time phase space correlation function in a dilute classical electron gas in equilibrium. The derivation is based on a density expansion of the correlation function and the resummation of the most divergent terms in each order in the density. It is formally analogous to the ring summation used in the kinetic theory of neutral fluids. The kinetic equation obtained is consistent to first order in the plasma parameter and is the generalization of the linearized Balescu-Guersey-Lenard operator to describe spatially inhomogeneous equilibrium fluctuations. The importance of consistently treating static correlations when deriving a kinetic equation for an electron gas is stressed. A systematic derivation as described here is needed for a further generalization to a kinetic equation that includes mode-coupling effects. This will be presented in a future paper.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)37-74
Number of pages38
JournalJournal of Statistical Physics
Volume41
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1985
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Balescu-Guernsey-Lenard kinetic equation
  • Electron gas
  • time correlation functions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
  • Mathematical Physics

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