Clustering of ions at atomic dimensions in quantum plasmas

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Shukla, Padma and Eliasson, Bengt (2013) Clustering of ions at atomic dimensions in quantum plasmas. Journal of Plasma Physics, 79 (04). pp. 359-366. ISSN 0022-3778 (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022377812001110)

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Abstract

By means of particle simulations of the equations of motion for ions interacting among themselves under the influence of newly discovered Shukla–Eliasson attractive force (SEAF) in a dense quantum plasma, we demonstrate that the SEAF can bring ions closer at atomic dimensions. We present simulation results of the dynamics of an ensemble of ions in the presence of the SEAF without and with confining external potentials and collisions between ions and degenerate electrons. Our particle simulations reveal that under the SEAF, ions attract each other, come closer, and form ionic clusters in the bath of degenerate electrons that shield ions. Furthermore, an external confining potential produces robust ion clusters that can have cigar- and ball-like shapes, which remain stable when the confining potential is removed. The stability of ion clusters is discussed. Our results may have applications to solid density plasmas (density exceeding 1023 per cm3), where the electrons will be degenerate and quantum forces due to the electron recoil effect caused by the overlapping of electron wave functions and electron tunneling through the Bohm potential, electron-exchange and electron-exchange and electron correlations associated with electron-1/2 spin effect, and the quantum statistical pressure of the degenerate electrons play a decisive role.

ORCID iDs

Shukla, Padma and Eliasson, Bengt ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6039-1574;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:44767
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    August 2013
    Published
    19 December 2012
    Published Online
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:10 Sep 2013 15:51
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 10:28
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/44767
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