Debye Shielding Lab

Preset

log₁₀ n_e [m⁻³] log₁₀ T_e [eV]

SHIELDED POTENTIAL

THE DEBYE SPHERE

Debye length λ_D = √(ε₀k_BT_e/n_ee²)
Plasma frequency ω_pe/2π
Particles in a Debye sphere N_D = (4/3)πn λ_D³
Plasma parameter g = 1/N_D (coupling)
Mean interparticle spacing n^−1/3
Ideal-plasma verdict

Grey = the bare Coulomb potential 1/r. Red = the screened potential (e^−r/λ_D)/r. A plasma is only a plasma when the shielding cloud has many particles in it — slide the density up until N_D drops below 1 and watch the verdict change.