Compress a very hot plasma, change in electromagnetic energy?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the behavior of a hot plasma, specifically hydrogen gas, when compressed while maintaining constant energy. It explores how energy is redistributed during compression, with some energy contributing to the heating of the plasma and photon gas. The conversation raises questions about the average total electrostatic energy and its changes during compression, as well as the implications for magnetic energy due to increased particle speeds. Clarifications are sought regarding the concept of "photon gas" and its relationship with the plasma at equilibrium temperature. Understanding these energy dynamics is crucial for comprehending the behavior of plasmas under compression.
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Say I have a volume of hydrogen gas that is raised to a temperature T so that 99.9 percent of the gas is ionized. If now, with the plasma at some pressure P, the volume is compressed a small volume dV such that no energy leaves the volume I'm curious of a total accounting of where the energy PdV goes.

Some energy goes into heating the plasma and some energy goes into "heating" the photon gas?

This is not a statics problem but is there an average total electrostatic energy that can be computed and does it change during compression? The electrostatic energy of a compressed neutral plasma confuses me.

What about the magnetic energy of the moving charges, their average speed increases but the volume decreases so does the total magnetic energy change?

I may be mixing classical and quantum, any clarifications welcome.

Thanks for any help!
 
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What "photon gas" are you referring to?
 
Drakkith said:
What "photon gas" are you referring to?

I assumed that if we have a plasma at equilibrium temperature T there would also be black body radiation at the same temperature T that coexisted with the plasma?
 
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