The longitudinal electric current in Maxwellian collisional plasma generated by a transverse electromagnetic wave

Abstract

Kinetic Vlasov equation for collisional Maxwellian plasmas is used. Collision integral of BGK (Bhatnagar, Gross and Krook) type is applied. From Vlasov equation we find distribution function of electrons in square-law approximation on size of transversal electric field. The formula for electric current calculation is deduced. This formula contains an one-dimensional quadrature. It is shown, that nonlinearity leads to revealing of the longitudinal electric current directed along a wave vector. This longitudinal current is perpendicular to known so-called transversal classical current. The classical current turns out at the linear analysis. The longitudinal current in case of small values of wave numbers is calculated. When frequency of collisions tends to zero, all received formulas for collisional plasmas pass in the known corresponding results for collisionless plasmas. Graphic research of dimensionless density of a current is carried out.