McOrist, J

Melrose, D B

Weise, J I

2007-08

<p>Relativistic effects on dispersion in a degenerate electron gas are discussed by comparing known response functions derived relativistically and non-relativistically. The main distinguishing feature is one-photon pair creation, which leads to logarithmic singularities in the response functions. Dispersion curves for longitudinal waves have a similar tongue-like appearance in the relativistic and non-relativistic case, with the main relativistic effects being on the Fermi speed and the cutoff frequency. For transverse waves the non-relativistic treatment has a non-physical feature near the cutoff frequency for large Fermi momenta, and this is attributed to an incorrect treatment of the electron spin. We find (with two important provisos) that one-photon pair creation is allowed in superdense plasmas, implying relatively strong coupling between transverse waves and pair creation.</p>

Journal of Plasma Physics, 73(4), p. 495-513

1469-7807

0022-3778

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/52994

Cambridge University Press

Dispersion in a relativistic degenerate electron gas

Journal Article

Publication