Collisionless plasmas are characterized by weak coupling among particles, where collisions are negligible compared to long-range collective interactions. A large mean free path and low particle density are critical factors that determine whether a plasma is collisionless. The electromagnetic perspective emphasizes that charged particles are primarily influenced by net charge distribution and magnetic fields. For further insights, refer to the discussions in "The Sun as a Guide to Stellar Physics" by E.R. Priest, 2019.
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Succinctly put, "Collisionless plasmas are weakly coupled, i.e., the coupling between the particles due to collisions is generally negligible, and instead, the long-range collective interactions bind particles together." In other words, the charged particles are mainly affected by the net charge distribution and the magnetic field.Jd1431 said:Hi, I'm trying to understand what determines whether a plasma will be collisionless or collisional. I understand that a diffuse plasma with large mean free path will be collisionless but I don't really understand it from an electromagnetic point of view