Transport coefficients in relativistic collisionless plasmas

The computation of the relativistic transport coefficients in collisionless plasmas is presented. The stationary relativistic Vlasov equation is analytically solved for perturbed plasmas with respect to the global equilibrium defined by the Maxwell-Boltzmann-Juttner distribution function. The explicit expression of the distribution function is derived and the generalized collisionless transport coefficients are deduced for arbitrary plasma temperature. It is found that the relativistic effects tend to increase the value of the transport coefficients. In particular, in ultrarelativistic regimes the temperature anisotropy reaches its maximum value. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.