Fluid moments of the nonlinear Landau collision operator

ORAL

Abstract

One important problem in plasma physics is the lack of an accurate and complete description of Coulomb collisions in associated fluid models. To shed light on the problem, this work introduces an integral identity involving the multivariate Hermite tensor polynomials and presents a method for computing exact expressions for the fluid moments of the nonlinear Landau collision operator. The proposed methodology provides a systematic and rigorous means of extending the validity of fluid models that have an underlying inverse-square force particle dynamics to arbitrary collisionality and flow. (For details, see arXiv:1605.07589)

Authors

  • Eero Hirvijoki

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

  • Manasvi Lingam

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

  • D Pfefferle

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton 08540 NJ, USA, PPPL

  • Luca Comisso

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

  • J. Candy

    General Atomics, GA

  • Amitava Bhattacharjee

    Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, PPPL, Princeton Plasma Phys Lab, Princeton University