摘要：So-calledκ-distributions are widely invoked in the analysis of nonequilibrium plasmas from space, although a general macroscopic parametrization as known for Maxwellian plasmas near thermal equilibrium is prevented by the diverging moments of orderl ≥ 2κ − 1. To overcome this critical limitation, recently novel regularizedκ-distributions (RK) have been introduced, including various anisotropic models with well-defined moments for any value ofκ > 0. In this paper, we present an evaluation of the pressure and heat flux of electron populations, as provided by moments of isotropic and anisotropicRKs for conditions typically encountered in the solar wind. We obtained finite values even for low values ofκ < 3/2, for which the pressure and heat flux moments of standardκ-distributions are not defined. These results were also contrasted with the macroscopic parameters obtained for Maxwellian populations, which show a significant underestimation especially if an important suprathermal population is present (e.g., forκ < 2), but ignored. Despite the collisionless nature of solar wind plasma, a realistic characterization as a fluid becomes thus possible, retaining all nonthermal features of plasma particles.
