Heuristic Description of Perpendicular Transport. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shalchi, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 1620(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Physics -- Congresses; 530.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1620/1/012018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-6588

Abstract

Abstract: The problem of the transport of energetic particles across a mean magnetic field is known since more than 50 years. Previous attempts to describe perpendicular transport theoretically were either based on complicated non-linear theories or computationally expensive simulations. In either case it remained unclear how particles really experience perpendicular transport. In this paper I will present a heuristic approach to solve this problem. Simple arguments will lead to several formulas for the perpendicular diffusion coefficient. These formulas include well-known cases such as compound sub-diffusion and the field line random walk limit but also newer cases such as the collisionless Rechester and Rosenbluth limit. Furthermore, analytical theories such as NLGC and UNLT theories contain a correction factor a 2 which is often assumed to be 1/3. The heuristic approach discussed in this article explains this value as well.