Thermalization of electron–positron plasma with quantum degeneracy

M.A Prakapenia,I.A Siutsou,G.V Vereshchagin

doi:10.1016/j.physleta.2018.10.013

M.A Prakapenia, I.A Siutsou + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physleta.2018.10.013

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Abstract

The non-equilibrium electron–positron–photon plasma thermalization process is studied using relativistic Boltzmann solver, taking into account quantum corrections both in non-relativistic and relativistic cases. Collision integrals are computed from exact QED matrix elements for all binary and triple interactions in the plasma. It is shown that in non-relativistic case (temperatures kBT≤0.3mec2) binary interaction rates dominate over triple ones, resulting in establishment of the kinetic equilibrium prior to final relaxation towards the thermal equilibrium, in agreement with the previous studies. On the contrary, in relativistic case (final temperatures kBT≥0.3mec2) triple interaction rates are fast enough to prevent the establishment of kinetic equilibrium. It is shown that thermalization process strongly depends on quantum degeneracy in initial state, but does not depend on plasma composition.

Highlights

The non-equilibrium electron-positron-photon plasma thermalization process is studied using relativistic Boltzmann solver, taking into account quantum corrections both in non-relativistic and relativistic cases
Two assumptions were adopted in all these works: 1) quantum degeneracy was neglected and 2) reaction rates for triple processes were computed assuming that detailed balance in all binary reactions is established in advance
In this work we report the study of the relaxation process of uniform isotropic electron-positron-photon plasma towards thermal equilibrium, both in nonrelativistic and relativistic cases, relaxing both above mentioned assumptions

Summary

Introduction

The non-equilibrium electron-positron-photon plasma thermalization process is studied using relativistic Boltzmann solver, taking into account quantum corrections both in non-relativistic and relativistic cases. It was shown that direct and inverse binary reactions between particles are essential for relaxation to thermal equilibrium, and triple ones.

Results

Conclusion