On the pressure balance and plasma transport in cylindrical magnetized arcs

Magnetized current-carrying plasmas exhibit usually significant E*B rotation velocities which often approach the ion thermal velocity. It is shown both experimentally and theoretically that this rotation in combination with inertia, viscosity and friction leads to an important reduction of the radial transport. If the radial electric field component is directed inward an inwardly directed force on the ions is set up. On the other hand, turbulence leads to enhanced transport especially at higher values of the electron Hall parameter. Also this effect is observed in this experiment and is shown to be in accordance with measured turbulence levels