Plasma Kinetic Theory

This MATLAB tool generates the motion of plasma particles randomly selected from the Boltzmann's distribution in the velocity space.

In plasma kinetic theory we analyze plasma particles in their configuration and velocity spaces. In kinetic theory we consider the plasma particle motion interms of their distribution functions. The most probable plasma velocity distribution function is the Boltzmann's distribution function. When the plasma is at equilibrium the velocity distribution function is called the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function and it has similar characteristics as the Gaussian distribution.

This MATLAB tool demonstrates the motion of plasma paricles randomly seleted from the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. This tool also shows that at equilibrium the average velocity of the distribution is zero and the variance is proportional to the square-toot of the absolute temperature.