Plasma Physics
4 terms
Landau Damping
Plasma Physics
s⁻¹ (Damping Rate γ)
The collisionless damping of electrostatic plasma waves caused by energy exchange between wave electric fields and particles moving near wave phase velocity.
γ_L = (π ω_pe³ / (2 k²)) (df₀ / dv)|_(v = ω/k)
Langmuir Probe
Plasma Physics
A (Measured Current) & V (Bias Voltage)
A diagnostic electrode inserted directly into a plasma to measure local electron temperature, plasma density, and floating potential from its current-voltage (I-V) curve.
I(V) = I_i,sat - I_e,sat exp(e (V - V_plasma) / (k_B T_e))
Laser Wakefield Acceleration
Plasma Physics
GeV/m (Accelerating Electric Field Gradient)
An advanced particle acceleration technique where ultra-intense laser pulses launched through plasma create giant relativistic plasma wave wakes that accelerate electrons over short distances.
E_wake ≈ (m_e c ω_p) / e ~ 100 GeV/m (Gradient ~ 1000× conventional LINACs)
Lawson Criterion
Plasma Physics
keV·s/m³ (Fusion Triple Product)
A fundamental condition for net thermonuclear fusion power gain, specifying minimum values for plasma density n, energy confinement time τ_E, and temperature T.
n τ_E T ≥ 3 × 10²¹ keV·s/m³ (Triple Product for D-T Ignition)