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Classical collisional particle systems residing in thermal equilibrium have their particle velocity/energy distribution function stabilized into a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. On the contrary, space and astrophysical plasmas are exotic collisionless particle systems residing in stationary states characterized by the kappa distribution function. A breakthrough in the field came with the connection of kappa distributions with statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, accomplished by the following theoretical findings: (1) kappa distributions maximize the entropy of nonextensive statistical mechanics under the constraints of canonical ensemble; (2) particle systems exchanging heat with each other and reaching thermodynamic equilibrium are stabilized always into the formulation of kappa distributions. Thereafter, kappa distributions became increasingly widespread across the physics of astrophysical plasma processes, describing particles in the heliosphere, from the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres to the distant heliospheric boundaries, and beyond, to the interstellar and intergalactic plasmas. The seminar will review the physical foundations and recent developments of kappa distributions in space and astrophysical plasmas

Reference

- Livadiotis, G., (2019),On the origin of polytropic behavior in space and astrophysical plasmas,Astrophys. J., 874, 10 (8pp)
-Livadiotis, G., (2018),Thermodynamic origin of kappa distributions, Europhys. Lett., 122, 50001, (8pp).
-Livadiotis, G., (2017), Kappa distributions: Theory and applications in plasmas, Elsevier, Netherlands, UK, USA)
- Livadiotis, G., (2015), Statistical background and properties of kappa distributions in space plasmas, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 1607, 619 (13pp), Livadiotis, G., & McComas, D. J., (2013), Understanding kappa distributions: A toolbox for space science and astrophysics, Space Sci. Rev., 75, 183, 214 (32pp)
- Livadiotis, G., & McComas, D.J., (2009), Beyond kappa distributions: Exploiting Tsallis statistical mechanics in space plasmas, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A11105 (22pp).