Convergent kinetic equation for plasma in magnetic field

Abstract

A Boltzmann-type kinetic equation is derived for a homogeneous electron plasma in a strong uniform magnetic field. The relaxation to thermal equilibrium is described by a convergent collision integral, although shielding is neglected. It is shown that the impulse approximation leads to a modification of the kinetic equation derived earlier by Rostoker and others. Also a quantum-mechanical kinetic equation is derived in the weak-coupling approximation. Its relation to the classical equations is discussed.