Electron kinetics in a cooling plasma

Abstract

The distribution function of suprathermal electrons in a slowly cooling plasma is calculated by an asymptotic expansion in the cooling rate divided by the collision frequency. Since the collision frequency decreases with increasing velocity, a high-energy tail forms in the electron distribution function as the bulk population cools down. Under certain simplifying assumptions (slow cooling, constant density, Born approximation of cross sections), the distribution function evolves to a self-similar state where the tail is inversely proportional to the cube of the velocity. Its practical consequences are discussed briefly.