Generalization of the Grad method in plasma physics

Abstract

The Grad method is generalized based on the Bogolyubov idea of the functional hypothesis for states at the end of relaxation processes in a system. The Grad problem (i.e., description of the Maxwell relaxation) for a completely ionized spatially uniform two-component electron-ion plasma is investigated using the Landau kinetic equation. The component distribution functions and time evolution equations for parameters describing the state of a system are calculated, and corrections are obtained to the known results in a perturbation theory in a small electron-to-ion mass ratio.

Keywords

• Maxwell relaxation
• Grad method
• generalized Chapman-Enskog method
• completely ionized plasma
• Sonine polynomials