A new hydrodynamic analysis of double layers

Abstract

A Genuine two-fluid model of plasmas with collisions permits the calculation of dynamic electric fields and double layers inside plasmas including oscillations and damping. For the first time a macroscopic model for coupling of electromagnetic and Langmuir waves was achieved with realistic damping. Starting points were laser produced plasmas showing very high dynamic electric fields in nonlinear force produced cavitons and inverted layers, in agreement with experiments. Applications for any inhomogeneous plasma as in laboratory or in astrophysical plasmas can then be followed up by a transparent hydrodynamic description. We find the rotation of plasmas in magnetic fields and a new second harmonic resonance. Explanation of inverted double layers, second harmonic emission from laser produced plasmas, and laser acceleration of charged particles by the very high fields of the double layers is given.