Trapping in quantum plasmas: a review

Abstract

In this paper, we have presented a comprehensive review of electron trapping in quantum plasmas. We have begun by giving a brief introduction of electron trapping in classical plasmas and then derived the expression of number density of trapped electrons for non-relativistic and relativistically degenerate cases and quantizing magnetic feld. We have obtained the expression for Sagdeev potential for all these cases and explored the variation of solitary structures with the important plasma parameters. We have also derived the equations for drift ion acoustic and pure drift waves for spatially nonuniform quantum magnetoplasmas both in collisionless and collisional plasmas. The fundamental diferences in trapping in classical and quan tum plasmas have been enunciated in detail. The applications of the work in ultra strong laser plasma interactions and white dwarf stars have also been pointed out.