Diffusion cooling in a magnetic field
Diffusion cooling of electrons in a weakly ionized plasma in the presence of a magnetic field is studied using the balance equations of momentum transfer theory, well known in "swarm" or test particle analysis. It is shown that for a cylindrical, axially symmetric system, the electron temperature profile can be "hollow" (i.e., T(e)<T(i)) and the radial ambipolar electric field can reverse to point inwards under certain conditions, reminiscent of observations in plasmas in toroidal devices at much higher temperatures.
Robson
RE
Department of Theoretical Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.