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At least 433 records · Page 24

Noninteracting Fermi gas in a square-well potential.

The problem of a noninteracting Fermi gas in a finite square-well potential is solved analytically in the limit that the well becomes infinitely wide. The errors of previous authors using this model as a first approximation to the problem of a simple metal with surfaces are pointed out.

Nash, C. E.↗

Fermi acceleration of auroral particles.

Review of a number of nighttime acceleration mechanisms proposed in the literature for the role of producing the keV nighttime auroral-particle fluxes. Parallel electric fields are rejected for several reasons, but particularly because of the observed simultaneous precipitation of electrons and protons. Acceleration in the neutral sheet is inadequate for producing the particle energies, the observed field-aligned pitch-angle distribution at high latitudes, and the spectral hardening toward lower latitudes. Neutral point mechanisms, although often suggested in principle, have never been demonstrated satisfactorily in theory or in practice. Pitch-angle scattering from a trapped population produced by transverse adiabatic compression is also incapable of producing the field-aligned distribution. It is therefore suggested that longitudinal or Fermi acceleration, which results from the known magnetospheric convection, is the main nighttime auroral acceleration mechanism. The argument is supported by data obtained with the soft-particle spectrometer on Isis 1.

Sharber, J. R.↗

Thermodynamics of Thomas-Fermi screened Coulomb systems

We obtain in closed analytic form, estimates for the thermodynamic properties of classical fluids with pair potentials of Yukawa type, with special reference to dense fully ionized plasmas with Thomas-Fermi or Debye-Hueckel screening. We further generalize the hard-sphere perturbative approach used for similarly screened two-component mixtures, and demonstrate phase separation in this simple model of a liquid mixture of metallic helium and hydrogen.

Firey, B.↗

Fermi liquid viscosity in a finite geometry

Forced flow of a Fermi liquid is studied for a cell geometry consisting of two planes with a separation on the order of mean free path. An approximate transport equation is used to derive an integral equation for the velocity profile, which is solved numerically. Results for the total flux through the cell, which determines the dissipation, are given as a function of the Knudsen number N (ratio of cell thickness to mean free path). Effects of specular reflection at the boundaries are considered. It is found that the dissipation has a minimum at N approximately equal to 1/2, and behaves linearly for N greater than or equal to 3. Implications for present experimentation are discussed.

Jaffe, J. E.↗

Fermi liquid viscosity in a finite geometry

Forced flow of a Fermi liquid is studied for a cell geometry consisting of two planes with a separation on the order of the mean free path. An approximate transport equation is used to derive an integral equation for the velocity profile, which is solved numerically. Results for the total flux through the cell, which determines the dissipation, are given as a function of the Knudsen number kappa (ratio of cell thickness to mean free path). Effects of specular reflection at the boundaries are considered. It is found that the dissipation has a minimum at kappa of 1/2, and behaves linearly for kappa not less than 3. Implications for present experimentation are discussed.

Jaffe, J. E.↗

Fermi-Compton scattering due to magnetopause surface fluctuations in Jupiter's magnetospheric cavity

The effects of boundary surface fluctuations on a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation trapped in a high Q (quality) cavity are considered. Undulating walls introduce small frequency shifts at reflection to the radiation, and it is argued that the process is entirely analogous to both Fermi (particle) acceleration and inverse Compton scattering. A Fokker-Planck formalism is pursued; it yields a diffusion equation in frequency for which the Green's function and steady-state solutions are found. Applying this analysis to the Jovian continuum radiation discovered by Voyager spacecraft, it is suggested that characteristic diffusion times are greater than 1 year, and that in order to account for the steep frequency spectra observed, an unidentified loss mechanism must operate in the cavity with a decay time constant approximately equal to the characteristic diffusion time divided by 28. A radiator-reactor model of the cavity is investigated to provide an estimate for the intrinsic luminosity of the low frequency (approximately 100 Hz) continuum source whose power is approximately 7 x 10 to the 6th W.

Barbosa, D. D.↗