Numerical Experiments with a Plasma Model

Abstract

The exact motion of a one‐dimensional system interacting through the electrostatic field is followed using a fast computer. The properties of the model are discussed and related to the three‐dimensional plasma. New results are presented for the drag and diffusion of test particles and the space and time correlations of the charge density. These ``experiments'' agree with the conventional theory. In an appendix is derived the kinetic equation for this model to first order in the small parameter, the reciprocal of the number of particles in the Debye length. To first order a velocity distribution is constant in time.