Quantum Electron-Exchange Effects on the Buneman Instability in Quantum Plasmas

Abstract

The quantum-mechanical electron-exchange effects on the Buneman instability are investigated in quantum plasmas. The growth rate and wave frequency of the Buneman instability for the quantum plasma system composed of the moving electron fluid relative to the ion fluid are obtained as functions of the electron-exchange parameter, de Broglie's wave length, Debye's length, and wave number. The result shows that the electron-exchange effect suppresses the growth rate of the quantum Buneman instability in quantum plasmas. It is also shown that the influence of electron exchange reduces the instability domain of the wave number in quantum plasmas. However, the instability domain enlarges with an increase in the ratio of the Debye length to the de Broglie wave length. In addition, the electron-exchange effect on the growth rate of the Buneman instability increases with an increase in the ratio of the Debye length to the de Broglie wave length. The variation in the growth rate of the Buneman instability due to the change in the electron-exchange effect and plasma parameters is also discussed.