On Quasilinear Perpendicular Diffusion

Abstract

Quasilinear perpendicular diffusion of charged particles in fluctuating electromagnetic fields is the focus of this paper. A general transport parameter for perpendicular diffusion is presented being valid for an arbitrary turbulence geometry and a plasma wave dispersion relation varying arbitrarily in wavevector. The new diffusion coefficient is evaluated in detail for slab turbulence geometry for two special cases: (1) Alfvénic turbulence and (2) dynamical magnetic turbulence. Furthermore, perpendicular diffusion in 2D geometry is considered for a purely dynamical magnetic turbulence. The derivations and numerical calculations presented here cast serious doubts on the applicability of quasilinear theory for perpendicular diffusion. Furthermore, they emphasize that nonlinear effects play a crucial role in the context of perpendicular diffusion.