Longitudinal electric current generated by a transverse electromagnetic field in a collisional plasma

Abstract

Kinetic Vlasov equation for collisional plasmas with BGK (Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook) collision integral is used. The case of arbitrary temperature (i.e. arbitrary degree of degeneration of electronic gas) is considered. From kinetic Vlasov equation the distribution function in square-law approximation on size of transversal electromagnetic field is received. The formula for calculation electric current is deduced. This formula contains one-dimension quadrature. It is shown, that the nonlinearity account leads to occurrence the longitudinal electric current directed along the wave vector. This longitudinal current is perpendicular to the known transversal classical current, received at the linear analysis. When frequency of collisions tends to zero, all received results for collisional plasma pass in known corresponding formulas for collisionless plasma. The case of small values of wave number is considered. It is shown, that the received quantity of longitudinal current at tendency of frequency of collisions to zero also passes in known corresponding expression of current for collisionless plasmas. Graphic research of dimensionless density of the current depending on wave number, frequency of oscillations of electromagnetic field and frequency of electron collisions with plasma particles is carried out.