When is the Boltzmann equation applicable in a Fermi plasma?

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SUMMARY

The Boltzmann equation is applicable in a Fermi plasma when classical mechanics can be applied, specifically when quantum effects can be ignored. It describes the evolution of the particle distribution function for a single species and is valid for various particles, including electrons, protons, and Helium ions. The equation for average density, ρ = m/V, holds true universally for any substance, while the density function in a plasma context is defined by the distribution functions of the particle species involved. The Boltzmann distribution is relevant when the energies of fermions are significantly greater than kT.

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QuarkDecay
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When do we use the Boltzmann equation for density in a Fermi plasma?
n in [cm-3]
and when do we use the ρ=m/V, ρ in [Kg/m3 ]
(this is not an example, I just added the equations to make my question more understandable)

Is the ideal gas only when we have electron and ions? Is the Boltzmann equation applicable when we change the electrons to other particles like ions, protons or muons?
 
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The particle density n and the mass density ρ always exist, that is independent of the particle type you consider.
In general laws of physics are independent of the type of particle in your system.
 
I find your questions to be a little confusing... but here we go.
QuarkDecay said:
When do we use the Boltzmann equation for density in a Fermi plasma?
QuarkDecay said:
Is the Boltzmann equation applicable when we change the electrons to other particles like ions, protons or muons?

The Boltzmann equation describes the evolution of the particle distribution function ##f_\alpha(\mathbf{r},\mathbf{p},t)## of a single species (denoted ##\alpha##) in the classical limit (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boltzmann_equation). Is this what you are talking about? if so, it is derived using classical mechanics, so is valid whenever you can ignore quantum effects. In the classical limit we use it for all kinds of particles. The title of your post mentions plasmas - we certainly use the Boltzmann equation to describe the dynamics of each species in garden variety plasmas such as planetary magnetospheres (electrons, protons, Helium ions, etc.). I personally do no know anything about muons.

However, you may be asking about the Boltzmann distribution (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boltzmann_distribution). If so, then it is valid whenever the energies of the fermions are >> kT. Again, I know nothing about muons.

QuarkDecay said:
and when do we use the ρ=m/V, ρ in [Kg/m3 ]
What do you mean by your symbols? If ##\rho## is average density, then it is always true that the average density of "stuff" in a volume V is given by ##\rho = m/V##, where ##m## is the total mass of stuff in that volume. This is true no matter what you are talking about.

However, if you are thinking about a plasma and are interested in ##\rho(\mathbf{r},t)## as a function of space and time, then it is given in terms of the distribution functions as ##\rho(\mathbf{r},t) = \sum_\alpha m_\alpha \int d^3\mathbf{p} \, f_\alpha(\mathbf{r},\mathbf{p},t)##, where ##m_\alpha## is the mass of each particle of species ##\alpha##.

jason
 

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