Electron Transport

The diffusion of electrons across magnetic field lines is studied in the laboratory. To study the diffusion of electrons with energies above the thermal plasma, an electron beam is injected along the confining magnetic field. These beam electrons experience collisions with waves and particles as they travel through the plasma. The random (on average) walks of these electrons away from their predicted straight-line path can be measured, giving the diffusion coefficients of the beam electrons. It is predicted that the beam-electron diffusion coefficient will have a dependence on the confining magnetic field and the wave fluctuation levels. To date, we have observed a dependence on the confining magnetic field, as shown in the figure at right.

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