Enhanced transport across laser generated magnetic fields

Abstract

Laser generated mega‐Gauss magnetic fields may have a disordered small‐scale structure, because many different field generation mechanisms are operating simultaneously. Electron cross‐field transport in such fields is studied, concentrating on three specific nonclassical transport processes: resonant scattering, field line wandering, and an analog of neoclassical diffusion. Each of these mechanisms seems capable of producing cross‐field transport rates significantly faster than the classical values for a mega‐Gauss magnetic field, yet considerably slower than the classical value for a field‐free plasma.