Plasma Landau Damping: Wave–Particle Interaction

Landau damping is a collisionless mechanism by which plasma waves decay — particles resonant with the wave (v ≈ ω/k) absorb energy. Because the Maxwellian distribution has more slow than fast particles, the wave loses energy to the bulk: |E|² ∝ e^{-γt} where γ = (π/2)(ω_p/k)³·(∂f/∂v)|_{v=ω/k}. Here we simulate particles in a sinusoidal electric field and watch velocity-space trapping.