THE TRANSPORT OF IONS IN A TURBULENT-PLASMA

Direct, experimental results show cross-field majority species ion transport which is linearly proportional to electrostatic fluctuation levels. Laser-induced fluorescence was used to tag ions within a plasma. The ion diffusive and convective motion could be observed. In a quiet plasma the ion cross-field diffusion agreed with classical predictions. A controlled level of electrostatic turbulence was then introduced into the plasma. The resulting increase in cross-field diffusion was consistent with D⊥≈ 4(cTe/eB)(δni/ni0). © 1990 American Institute of Physics.