Partition function for a two-dimensional plasma in the random-phase approximation

Abstract

The partition function for a two-dimensional plasma is evaluated within the random-phase approximation. The periodic boundary conditions are taken fully into account by including the periodic image interactions. In the guiding-center limit, the "negative temperature" threshold energy is evaluated, and a value different from previous calculations results. When an identical random-phase evaluation is applied to the finite-gyroradius plasma, the Salzberg-Prager-May equation of state is recovered.