Vlasov dynamics of 1D models with long-range interactions

Abstract

Gravitational and electrostatic interactions are fundamental examples of systems with long-range interactions. Equilibrium properties of simple models with long-range interactions are well understood and exhibit exotic behaviors : negative specific heat and inequivalence of statistical ensembles for instance. The understanding of the dynamical evolution in the case of long-range interacting systems still represents a theoretical challenge. Phenomena such as out-of-equilibrium phase transitions or quasi-stationary states have been found even in simple models. The purpose of the present thesis is to investigate the dynamical properties of systems with long-range interactions, specializing on one-dimensional models. The appropriate kinetic description for these systems is the Vlasov equation. A numerical simulation tool for the Vlasov equation is developed. A detailed study of the out-of-equilibrium phase transition occuring in the Free-Electron Laser is performed and the transition is analyzed with the help of Lynden-Bell's theory. Then, the presence of stretching and folding in phase space for the Hamiltonian Mean-Field model is studied and quantified from the point of view of fluid dynamics. Finally, a system of uncoupled pendula for which the asymptotic states are similar to the ones of the Hamiltonian Mean-Field model is introduced. Its asymptotic evolution is predicted via both Lynden-Bell's theory and an exact computation. This system displays a fast initial evolution similar to the violent relaxation found for interacting systems. Moreover, an out-of-equilibrium phase transition is found if one imposes a self-consistent condition on the system. In summary, the present thesis discusses original results related to the occurence of quasi-stationary states and out-of-equilibrium phase transitions in 1D models with long-range interaction.

PhD thesis discussed on January 5th 2010 at the Université libre de Bruxelles. 131 pages, the table of contents is clickable via the page numbers

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