Comparison of transport equations based on Maxwellian and bi-Maxwellian distributions for anisotropic plasmas

A wide variety of plasma flow conditions is found in aeronomy and space plasma physics. Transport equations based on an isotropic Maxwellian vilecity distribution function can be used to describe plasma flows which contain 'small' temperature anisotropies. However, for plasma flows characterized by large temperature anisotropies, transport equations based on an anisotropic bi-Maxwellian (or two-temperature) velocity distribution function are expected to provide a much better description of the plasma transport properties. The present investigation is concerned with the extent to which transport equations based on both Maxwellian and bi-Maxwellian series expansions can describe plasma flows characterized by non-Maxwellian velocity distributions, giving particular attention to a modelling of the anisotropic character of the distribution function. The obtained results should provide clues as to the extent to which a given series expansion can account for the anisotropic character of a plasma.