Numerical study of a many-particle adiabatic invariant

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Abstract
For a pure electron plasma in a sufficiently strong magnetic field, an unusual many‐electron adiabatic invariant is predicted to constrain the collisional dynamics. To the extent that this invariant is preserved, no exchange of energy is possible between the parallel and perpendicular degrees of freedom; the system can acquire and maintain two different temperatures, T∥ and T⊥. However, since an adiabatic invariant is not an exact constant of the motion, equilibration eventually takes place, but on an exponentially long time scale. This Letter presents the results of a molecular dynamics simulation, which verifies the existence of this unusual invariant and verifies the theoretically predicted equilibration rate.

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