Partial-ionization deconfinement effect in magnetized plasma

M. E. Mlodik, E. J. Kolmes, I. E. Ochs, T. Rubin, N. J. Fisch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

In partially ionized plasma, where ions can be in different ionization states, each charge state can be described as a different fluid for the purpose of multi-ion collisional transport. In the case of two charge states, transport pushes plasma toward equilibrium, which is found to be a combination of local charge-state equilibrium and generalized pinch relations between ion fluids representing different charge states. Combined, these conditions lead to a dramatic deconfinement of ions. This deconfinement happens on the timescale similar but not identical to the multi-ion cross-field transport timescale, as opposed to electron-ion transport timescale in fully ionized plasma. Deconfinement occurs because local charge-state equilibration enforces the disparity in diamagnetic drift velocities of ion fluid components, which in turn leads to the cross-field transport due to ion-ion friction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number112111
JournalPhysics of Plasmas
Volume29
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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