Knudsen number as a non-thermal parameter: possible origin of skewness in space plasma distributions

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Gallo-Méndez, Iván, Viñas, Adolfo F., Moya, Pablo S.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Gallo-Méndez, Iván
Viñas, Adolfo F.
Moya, Pablo S.
author_facet Gallo-Méndez, Iván
Viñas, Adolfo F.
Moya, Pablo S.
contents Non-Maxwellian distributions and their origins in space plasma have attracted significant attention due to their prevalence and impact on various astrophysical and space-related phenomena. This paper presents a theoretical study of the consequences of incorporating a Skew-Kappa distribution to describe the non-thermal electron distribution in the solar wind. By introducing a Krook-like term into the Boltzmann equation to represent collision effects, we investigate the dependence of the skewness parameter on plasma macro-dynamics. Our analysis focuses on understanding the departure from thermal equilibrium and the statistical behavior of the plasma under the influence of collisional processes. By analyzing the Boltzmann transport equation adapted to space plasma, we derive expressions for the skewness parameter as a function of plasma parameters and the collision effect. Our results provide valuable information on the relationship between skewness, collisional dynamics, and the statistical properties of space plasmas, namely $δ\sim K_N$, the relationship between the skewness parameter and the effective Knudsen number. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of non-Maxwellian distributions and their role in astrophysical and space plasma phenomena.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_24992
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Knudsen number as a non-thermal parameter: possible origin of skewness in space plasma distributions
Gallo-Méndez, Iván
Viñas, Adolfo F.
Moya, Pablo S.
Plasma Physics
Non-Maxwellian distributions and their origins in space plasma have attracted significant attention due to their prevalence and impact on various astrophysical and space-related phenomena. This paper presents a theoretical study of the consequences of incorporating a Skew-Kappa distribution to describe the non-thermal electron distribution in the solar wind. By introducing a Krook-like term into the Boltzmann equation to represent collision effects, we investigate the dependence of the skewness parameter on plasma macro-dynamics. Our analysis focuses on understanding the departure from thermal equilibrium and the statistical behavior of the plasma under the influence of collisional processes. By analyzing the Boltzmann transport equation adapted to space plasma, we derive expressions for the skewness parameter as a function of plasma parameters and the collision effect. Our results provide valuable information on the relationship between skewness, collisional dynamics, and the statistical properties of space plasmas, namely $δ\sim K_N$, the relationship between the skewness parameter and the effective Knudsen number. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of non-Maxwellian distributions and their role in astrophysical and space plasma phenomena.
title Knudsen number as a non-thermal parameter: possible origin of skewness in space plasma distributions
topic Plasma Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.24992