Spontaneous Formation of a Plasma Hole in a Rotating Magnetized Plasma: A Giant Burgers Vortex in a Compressible Fluid

Abstract

Spontaneous formation of a cylindrical density cavity, or ''plasma hole,'' has been observed in a rotating magnetized plasma. Density of the plasma hole is one-tenth of that of ambient plasma and is bounded by a steep transition layer of the order of several ion Larmor radii. The flow velocity field associated with the plasma hole is experimentally determined, exhibiting a monopole vortical structure. It is found that the vorticity distribution is localized near the center of the hole and is identified as a Burgers vortex. This is the first experimental observation of a Burgers vortex in a plasma.