Macroscopic Foundation of Plasma Dynamics

Abstract

A fluid which comprises several species of charged and neutral particles is treated macroscopically. Basic equations, energy and momentum theorems, and law of similarity are discussed. The condition under which current equation reduces to the usual form is considered; and one-dimensional transverse waves are treated as an example. Quasi-stationary phenomena are examined as a particular case; and it is pointed out that one of the usual basic equations of hydromagnetics, the Ohm’s law J=σ(E+v×B), should be replaced by rot(E+v×B−σ⁻¹J)=0, v being the velocity of the mean mass flow. An axially symmetric solution is obtained and applied to a self-pinched column, whose stability is explained in an elementary manner.