Kinetic equations for a non-uniform plasma in strong fields and resulting particle transport

Abstract

From the BBGKY equations for a multi-component plasma a derivation of generalized kinetic equations valid for non-uniform, neutral as well as non-neutral plasmas in strong electric and magnetic fields is made. Explicit effects of particle gyration and non-uniformities on the collisional scale are included in the collision terms. For each particle species the collision terms describing interaction between the same or other particle species consist of two parts. The first part is a generalization of the corresponding classical term, to which it reduces when fields and non-uniformities are negligible on the collisional scales. The second part is non-vanishing when non-uniformities are taken account of on the collisional scale. For the case of a neutral plasma, particle transport transverse to the magnetic field and along the density gradient is found. The result shows an increase of particle transport as compared with the classical formula when the Larmor radii are smaller than the Debye length. The underlying mechanism for this increase is pointed out.