Debye Screening in a Plasma

Plasma Parameters

Temperature T: 1.0 Density n: 100 Test charge Q: +5 Reset Particles Toggle Field Lines

Observables

Click to Add Charge

Click on the simulation to place a test charge.

About

In a plasma, free charges screen any test charge. The screening length is the Debye length:

λ_D = √(ε₀k_BT / ne²)

Beyond λ_D, the Coulomb potential decays as e^-r/λ_D/r (Yukawa potential) rather than 1/r.

This simulation shows particles (+/−) responding to field of central charge. The shielding cloud assembles spontaneously.