Electron transport coefficients under super-Gaussian distribution and magnetic field

Abstract

An electron thermal transport theory based on the super-Gaussian electron distribution function f0∝e−vm is investigated for magnetized laser plasmas in order to obtain accurate transport coefficients used in the radiation hydrodynamic codes. It is found that the super-Gaussian distribution suppresses the diffusive heat flow and the Righi-Leduc heat flow. The diffusive heat flow and Righi-Leduc heat flow can be suppressed by as much as 50% and 75% under the typical hohlraum plasma condition, respectively. The super-Gaussian distribution introduces isothermal heat flows associated with the gradients of electron density and the super-Gaussian exponential factor m. And the isothermal heat flows induce the anomalous Nernst effects. Moreover, the self-generated magnetic field in laser plasmas can be generated not only by the thermalelectric effect but also by the nonparallel gradients of electron temperature and the super-Gaussian exponential factor m, the nonparallel gradients of electron density, and the super-Gaussian exponential factor m.