Vlasov-Fokker-Plank(VFP) equation from Boltzmann equation

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the derivation and understanding of the Vlasov-Fokker-Planck (VFP) equation from a modified Boltzmann equation in the context of cosmic ray acceleration in magnetized plasma. Participants explore the mathematical formulation and the implications of specific terms within these equations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a modified Boltzmann equation for cosmic rays, questioning the inclusion of a specific term that involves the gradient of the plasma velocity.
  • Another participant suggests that understanding the context of the source material, such as a specific paper, may clarify the discussion.
  • A later reply indicates that the term in question may arise from defining the distribution function in the local fluid rest frame, which is noted as unusual in relativistic transport theory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the derivation of the modified Boltzmann equation and the role of specific terms in the VFP equation. There is no consensus on the interpretation of these equations or the implications of the terms involved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of the equations involved and the potential for varying interpretations based on different theoretical frameworks. The reference to the local fluid rest frame introduces additional considerations that may not be universally accepted.

Pedro de la Torre
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Dear community,
I am studying some equations related to the acceleration of cosmic rays(CRs) in magnetized plasma and I have seen a couple the equations I am not able to understand.
First, I see that it is used as time-dependent Boltzmann equation for the CRs

∂ƒ/∂t + (vx + u)∂ƒ/∂x - ∂u/∂xpx∂ƒ/∂ px + FL/a ∂ƒ/∂p = C(f)
, where u is the background plasma velocity, FL is the Lorentz force and C(f) is the collision term.
The problem is that I have always seen this equation as ∂ƒ/∂t + (vx + u)∂ƒ/∂x + FL/a ∂ƒ/∂p = C(f), this is, without the term - ∂u/∂x px ∂ƒ/∂px that I am not able toderive.

Then, this equation is linearized supposing that the distribution function, f = f0 + f1 p/p to obtain the VFP equation:

u∂ƒ0/∂x + c/3 ∂ƒ/∂x -1/3 ∂u/∂x p ∂ƒ0/∂px
How do we arrive to this expression? It is clear for me that the steady state solution is taken, so ∂ƒ/∂t = 0, but I do not even understand why the factor fx appears there (fx is the x component of the vector f1).

Could someone explain me the first "modified" Boltzmann eq. and how to reach the expression of the VFP eq?

Thank you in advance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It might help if you tell us where you read this, which would help with context, e.g., a paper or textbook. Thanks.
 
jim mcnamara said:
It might help if you tell us where you read this, which would help with context, e.g., a paper or textbook. Thanks.

The paper in which I have seen that is: A. R. Bell, Cosmic ray acceleration (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927650512001272)
And what I have called "modified" Boltzmann equation is the equation 1 of the paper.
 
I think that term comes from the strange fact that they refer to ##f(x,\vec{p})## being defined in the local fluid rest frame, i.e., the CR momenta ##\vec{p}## are taken in the fluid rest frame. That's unusual in relativistic transport theory, where one usually uses one "computational frame", and ##f(x,\vec{p})## is a Lorentz scalar function anyway (by definition!). For an intro to relativistic transport theory, see

https://th.physik.uni-frankfurt.de/~hees/publ/kolkata.pdf
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Pedro de la Torre

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K