Past exam of the kinetic theory course of the University of Oxford / 2025 / 2 / b / Solution

Let $A_0=f_0(0)$, $\delta =v_2-v_1$, $V=v_0+\delta$ and $K=k^2{\lambda }_{\mathrm{De}}^2$. Use the Debye length convention of the paper, ${\lambda }_{\mathrm{De}}=v_0/{\omega }_{\mathrm{pe}}$. On the candidate intervals in a, the Landau contour contributes no imaginary part. The piecewise constant slopes giveSince $n_0=v_0{A}_0$, setting the dielectric function to zero yieldsThe absolute values express the real response on the allowed intervals. Solving this real equation inside a sloping portion of $f_0$ would not satisfy the imaginary part of the dielectric function.

An exact algebraic form will also make the number of undamped branches clear. DefineOn each allowed interval, the quantity inside the logarithm equals $u^2(u-v_2)/[(u+v_0)(u-v_1)(u-V)]$. Exponentiating and usinggives the cubic equationFor every $k>0$, the logarithm runs from $0$ to $+\infty$ on $(-\infty ,-v_0)$, from $+\infty$ to $-\infty$ on $(v_1,v_2)$, and from $+\infty$ to $0$ on $(V,\infty )$. The intermediate value theorem supplies a root in each interval, and the cubic equation permits at most three. Thus there is exactly one undamped branch in each interval.