HYDRODYNAMIC QUASI-LINEAR THEORY OF COLLISIONAL PLASMA IN A WEAK MICROWAVE ELECTRIC FIELD

Abstract

We have developed a quasi-linear hydrodynamic theory of non-isothermal (T_e » Ti) collisional plasma placed in weak microwave electric field. It is assumed that the time of quasi-linear consideration does not exceed the time of the energy exchange of electronic components with the neutrals and Joule heating. In this sense the ground state of the system is ‘quasi-equilibrium’. Using the averaging over random phases, we have proved quasi-linear hydrodynamic equations for unsteady weakly ionized non-isothermal plasma placed in a microwave electric field. Collisions are taken into account through the Boltzmann collision integral. The equations are obtained for quasi-linear moments under conditions when the electron distribution function is close to Maxwellian.