Electric Field Distribution in a Dense Plasma

Abstract

A calculation is presented of the probability distribution function of the electric field at the center of an ion or atom in a plasma in the high ion density limit. In this limit, it is possible to take into account rigorously the effect of the Coulomb interactions on the distribution function. The distribution function in the high‐density limit is Gaussian. The Coulomb interaction decreases the mean square electric field by the multiplicative factor [1 + κa₀ + ⅓(κa₀)²]⁻¹, where κ is the reciprocal Debye length and a₀ the radius of the ion or atom at whose center the field is evaluated.