Anomalous Electron Diffusion and Ion Acceleration in a Low-Density Plasma
The Physics of Fluids · 1966 · 295 citations · 9 references
Anomalous Electron DiffusionEngineeringMagnetized Plasma PhysicsPlasma ScienceMagnetized PlasmaPlasma PhysicsSpace Plasma PhysicPlasma TheoryPlasma SimulationTransport PhenomenaPlasma ConfinementElectric FieldElectric Field FluctuationsAnomalous DiffusionPlasma TurbulencePhysicsApplied Plasma PhysicFundamental Plasma PhysicAtomic PhysicsPlasma InstabilityNon-axisymmetric Plasma ConfigurationsApplied Physics
The study examines ion and electron transport in a weakly turbulent plasma with crossed E and B fields, where the ion gyro radius exceeds apparatus dimensions and a slowly rotating density concentration with superimposed high‑frequency fluctuations is present. The experimental geometry allows quantitative measurement of electron and ion currents. Ions are freely accelerated by electrostatic forces, while electrons exhibit anomalous diffusion across the magnetic field due to E×B drifts from correlated electric field and density fluctuations, with measured currents matching predictions and agreeing with Yoshikawa and Rose’s turbulent diffusion theory.
Ion and electron transport properties have been measured in a steady state, weakly turbulent plasma that was subjected to crossed E and B fields. The geometry permits quantitative measurements of electron and ion currents. The ion gyro radius is large compared to the apparatus dimensions. Measurements of the potential gradients, Hall currents, and ion velocity show that the ions are freely accelerated through the plasma by electrostatic forces. However, an ``anomalous diffusion'' of electrons is observed since the electron current across the magnetic field is much too large to be due to collisional diffusion. The plasma is weakly turbulent, consisting of a slowly rotating density concentration on which higher frequency fluctuations are superimposed. Electric field fluctuations are found that are correlated with the density variations so as to produce the ``anomalous diffusion'' via adiabatic E × B drifts. The magnitudes of these electric field and density variations are used to predict a net electron current that agrees with the direct measurements of this current. Reasonable agreement with the turbulent diffusion theory of Yoshikawa and Rose is obtained.
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