Sound absorption in partially ionized hydrogen plasma and heating mechanism of solar chromosphere

Abstract

The temperature dependence of rates of electron impact ionization and two electrons recombination are calculated using Wannier cross section of electron impact ionization of neutral hydrogen atom. Entropy production and power dissipation are derived for the case when the ionization degree deviates from its equilibrium value. This is the special case of the obtained general formula for entropy production accompanying chemical reactions. Damping rate of the sound waves is calculated and the conditions when ionization processes dominate are considered. A quasi-classical approximation for the heating mechanism of solar chromosphere is proposed. Several analogous phenomena for damping rates in liquids and crystals are shortly discussed, for example, deaf sound of a glass of beer or English salt solution. An explicit expression for the second or bulk (or volume) viscosity of hydrogen plasma is calculated from firsts principles. For the first time some second viscosity is calculated from first principles.