Hot plasma in contact with a cold wall

Abstract

The effect of a cold wall on a hot plasma with initial uniform temperature and strong magnetic field parallel to the wall is studied. For physical values of thermal conductivity, resistivity, and electron-ion equilibration coefficients, the full set of one-fluid, two-temperature equations is solved numerically. These results are then compared with analytic self-similar solutions. The dynamic behavior of the plasma is presented. The total energy loss to the wall per unit area is evaluated and may be approximated rather well by an analytical expression derived from the fundamental equations.