Debye_number¶
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plasmapy.formulary.parameters.
Debye_number
(T_e: Unit("K"), n_e: Unit("1 / m3")) -> Unit(dimensionless)¶ Return the number of electrons within a sphere with a radius of the Debye length.
Aliases:
nD_
Parameters: Raises: TypeError
– If either argument is not aQuantity
astropy.units.UnitConversionError
– If either argument is in incorrect unitsValueError
– If either argument contains invalid values
Warns: ~astropy.units.UnitsWarning – If units are not provided, SI units are assumed
Returns: N_D – Number of electrons within a sphere with a radius of the Debye length
Return type: Notes
The Debye number is the number of electrons contained within a sphere with a radius of a Debye length and is given by
\[N_D = \frac{4\pi}{3}n_e\lambda_D^3\]The Debye number is also known as the plasma parameter.
Collective behavior requires a Debye number significantly larger than one.
See also
Example
>>> from astropy import units as u >>> Debye_number(5e6*u.K, 5e9*u.cm**-3) <Quantity 2.17658...e+08>