METASTABLE STATE OF SUPERCOOLED PLASMA

The computer ab initio simulation and analytical theory, that revealed unexpected non-ergodic properties of a classical Coulomb plasma, is overviewed. The results of a many-charged-particles system simulation predict the possible existence of a real metastable plasma, supercooled with respect to its ionization degree. The three-body recombination at this state is suppressed. The existence of such a plasma state is a consequence of the entropy conservation in isolated Hamiltonian systems free from any stochastic action from the outside (external stochastic disturbance). The occurrence of a metastable supercooled plasma (rather similar to a supercooled vapor or superheated liquid) depends on two conditions: First, all the charged particles should behave exactly according to the laws of classical mechanics (hence, most negatively-charged particles should preferably be heavy ions). Second, the plasma ionization degree should be sufficiently high (> 10(-3)). It is shown from thermodynamic consideration that a mixture of supercooled plasma with a perfect (ideal) gas might form a plasmoid of the ball-lightning type.