The effect of the electric field on the confinement of electron plasmas on magnetic surfaces

The neoclassical confinement of electron plasmas on magnetic surfaces is examined. The large electric field of these plasmas has the beneficial effect of making the diffusion coefficient proportional to E^-2, because of the E × B drift within the magnetic surfaces. Diffusion driven by the electron density gradient is expected to give an approximate confinement time τ∝(eΔΦ/T²). However, the primary drive for electron transport is not the density gradient, but the radial electric ield. This changes the scaling to τ∝eΔΦ/T. The net effect of the electric field is still beneficial, but it is less than previously thought.