| Abstract: | Abstract A collisionless plasma is modeled by the Vlasov-Poisson system in three space dimensions. A fixed background of positive charge, which is independent of time and space, is assumed. The situation in which mobile negative ions balance the positive charge as |x|→∞ is considered. Hence the total positive charge and the total negative charge are infinite. Smooth solutions with appropriate asymptotic behavior are shown to exist locally in time. Conditions for continuation of these solutions are also established. |
