Stationary states of polytropic plasmas

Abstract

In this paper, we prove that the kappa distribution is the stationary solution of the Vlasov-Poisson system in an inhomogeneous plasma under the polytropic equation of state and an assumption restricting the local velocity distribution to a specific mathematical form. The profiles of density, temperature, and electric potential are obtained theoretically. The kappa index can be determined if the initial state is known. In order to verify the theory, particle-in-cell simulations are made and the results show excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions for density, temperature, and velocity distributions of electrons. It is shown that the electron velocity distribution of spatially inhomogeneous plasma evolves from an initial Maxwellian to the final kappa distribution. It is also found that the value of kappa index in the final stationary state depends on the initial state of plasma.