Hydrodynamic relaxation of an electron plasma to a near-maximum entropy state.
Dynamical relaxation of a pure electron plasma in a Malmberg-Penning trap is studied, comparing experiments, numerical simulations and statistical theories of weakly dissipative two-dimensional (2D) turbulence. Simulations confirm that the dynamics are approximated well by a 2D hydrodynamic model. Statistical analysis favors a theoretical picture of relaxation to a near-maximum entropy state with constrained energy, circulation, and angular momentum. This provides evidence that 2D electron fluid relaxation in a turbulent regime is governed by principles of maximum entropy.
Rodgers
D J
DJ
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
Servidio
S
S
Matthaeus
W H
WH
Montgomery
D C
DC
Mitchell
T B
TB
Aziz
T
T