Suprathermal populations and their effects in space plasmas: Kappa vs. Maxwellian

Pierrard, Viviane;Lazar, Mariam;Maksimovic, Milan
(2021) Kappa Distributions From Observational Evidences via Controversial Predictions to a Consistent Theory of Nonequilibrium Plasmas — ISBN: [978-3-030-82622-2], p. 15-38, published

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Authors
  • Pierrard, Vivianeorcid-logoUCLouvain
    Author
  • Lazar, MariamCentre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
    Author
  • Maksimovic, MilanLESIA, Observatory of Paris Meudon, Paris, Franc
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Abstract
Understanding the origin and implications of the suprathermal particle populations present in space plasmas is facilitated by the observations and theo- retical interpretations using Kappa distribution models. Characteristic to collision- poor plasmas, such as the solar wind and planetary environments, suprathermal populations may significantly contribute to the energy budget of electrons and ions, with consequences on their temperature, bulk velocities, and the heat flux. Moreover, if present at low altitudes in the solar atmosphere, suprathermal particles can trigger the process of velocity filtration to explain coronal overheating, while the exospheric solar wind models of Kappa distributed populations are also able to predict the acceleration of fast streams (even originating in coronal holes). The present chapter reviews these concepts and physical properties on the basis of recent interpretations using comparisons between models based on Maxwellian and on Kappa distributions which bring improved and realistic perceptions of suprathermal plasma particles.
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Pierrard, V., Lazar, M., & Maksimovic, M. (2021). Suprathermal populations and their effects in space plasmas: Kappa vs. Maxwellian. In Marian Lazar, Horst Fichtner (ed.), Kappa Distributions From Observational Evidences via Controversial Predictions to a Consistent Theory of Nonequilibrium Plasmas (p. p. 15-38). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82623-9_2