Dielectric energy versus plasma energy, and Hamiltonian action-angle variables for the Vlasov equation

Abstract

Expressions for the energy content of one-dimensional electrostatic perturbations about homogeneous equilibria are revisited. The well-known dielectric energy, {var epsilon}{sub D}, is compared with the exact plasma free energy expression, {delta}{sup 2}F, that is conserved by the Vlasov-Poisson system. The former is an expression in terms of the perturbed electric field amplitude, while the latter is determined by a generating function, which describes perturbations of the distribution function that respect the important constraint of dynamical accessibility of the system. Thus the comparison requires solving the Vlasov equation for such a perturbations of the distribution function in terms of the electric field. This is done for neutral modes of oscillation that occur for equilibria with stationary inflection points, and it is seen that for these special modes {delta}{sup 2}F = {var epsilon}{sub D}. In the case of unstable and corresponding damped modes it is seen that {delta}{sup 2}F {ne} {var epsilon}{sub D}; in fact {delta}{sup 2}F {equivalent to} 0. This failure of the dielectric energy expression persists even for arbitrarily small growth and damping rates since {var epsilon}{sub D} is nonzero in this limit, whereas {delta}{sup 2}F remains zero. The connection between the new exact energy expression and the at-best approximate {var epsilon}{sub D} is described. The new expression motivates natural definitions of Hamiltonian action variables and signature. A general linear integral transform is introduced that maps the linear version of the noncanonical Hamiltonian structure, which describes the Vlasov equation, to action-angle (diagonal) form.