Modelling of relativistic ion-acoustic waves in ultra-degenerate plasmas

Abstract

We consider the relativistic ion-acoustic mode in a plasma composed by cold ions and an ultra-degenerate electron gas, described the relativistic Vlasov–Poisson system. A critical examination of popular fluid models for relativistic ion-acoustic waves is provided, comparing kinetic and hydrodynamic results. The kinetic linear dispersion relation is shown to be reproduced by the rigorous relativistic hydrodynamic equations with Chandrasekhar’s equation of state.