Thickness of 'shell' in momentum space in a plasma?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the thickness of the 'shell' in momentum space formed by protons, deuterons, and electrons in a plasma compared to that in a gas, specifically D2 or H2 at room temperature. It concludes that while the distribution of kinetic energies remains consistent, the momentum distribution in a plasma is more compact due to the lighter mass of electrons, resulting in a thinner shell in momentum space. The thermodynamic equilibrium of a hydrogen plasma at room temperature necessitates an extremely thin configuration.

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Sven Andersson
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Let's say we have a plasma of protons or deuterons and electrons; how thick is the 'shell' that the nuclei form in momentum space compared to the 'shell' formed by D2 or H2 in a gas, at room temperature? Will the distribution of momentum be more spread out or more compact, so to speak, in a plasma compared to a gas?
 
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To have a hydrogen plasma at room temperature in thermodynamic equilibrium it has to be extremely thin.
The distribution of kinetic energies will be the same, so the nuclei/atoms will have very similar momenta. The electrons have a much lower momentum for the same energy as they are lighter.
 

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