A nonextensive statistics approach for Langmuir waves in relativistic plasmas

Abstract

The nonextensive statistics formalism proposed by Tsallis has found many applications in systems with memory effects, long range spatial correlations, and in general whenever the phase space has fractal or multi-fractal structure. These features may appear naturally in turbulent or non-neutral plasmas. In fact, the equilibrium distribution functions which maximize the nonextensive entropy strongly resemble the non-Maxwellian particle distribution functions observed in space and laboratory and turbulent pure electron plasmas. In this article we apply the Tsallis entropy formalism to the problem of longitudinal oscillations in a proton-electron plasma. In particular, we study the equilibrium distribution function and the dispersion relation of longitudinal oscillations in a relativistic plasma, finding interesting differences with the nonrelativistic treatment.