The complete iso-thermalization by collective electromagnetic interactions of strongly anisotropic magnetized collisionless plasmas

The iso-thermalization of strongly anisothermal magnetized collisionless plasmas by collective electromagnetic interactions is investigated with the aid of particle-in-cell simulation methods. The iso-thermalization process is found to be strongly dependent on the initial ratio of the two temperatures involved, T_{perpendicular to}/T/sub ///: the higher T _{perpendicular to}/T/sub /// the stronger the relaxation. For sufficiently large T_{perpendicular to}/T/sub /// values the iso-thermalization is complete. The time evolution of the instability (i.e. the built up and decay of the electromagnetic turbulence) and of the particle relaxation (iso-thermalization) for several initial conditions is presented and discussed. These results should provide a guide for elaborating a fully non-linear theory.