Hydrodynamic Relaxation of an Electron Plasma to a Near-Maximum Entropy State

Authors

D. J. Rodgers, University of Delaware
S. Servidio, University of Delaware
W. H. Matthaeus, University of Delaware
D. C. Montgomery, Dartmouth College
T. B. Mitchell, University of Delaware
T. Aziz, University of Delaware

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-18-2009

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

Dynamical relaxation of a pure electron plasma in a Malmberg-Penning trap is studied, comparing experiments, numerical simulations and statistical theories of weakly dissipative two-dimensional (2D) turbulence. Simulations confirm that the dynamics are approximated well by a 2D hydrodynamic model. Statistical analysis favors a theoretical picture of relaxation to a near-maximum entropy state with constrained energy, circulation, and angular momentum. This provides evidence that 2D electron fluid relaxation in a turbulent regime is governed by principles of maximum entropy.

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.244501

Original Citation

Rodgers DJ, Servidio S, Matthaeus WH, Montgomery DC, Mitchell TB, Aziz T. Hydrodynamic relaxation of an electron plasma to a near-maximum entropy state. Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Jun 19;102(24):244501. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.244501. Epub 2009 Jun 18. PMID: 19659012.

Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation

Rodgers, D. J.; Servidio, S.; Matthaeus, W. H.; Montgomery, D. C.; Mitchell, T. B.; and Aziz, T., "Hydrodynamic Relaxation of an Electron Plasma to a Near-Maximum Entropy State" (2009). Dartmouth Scholarship. 2007.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/2007