Order and chaos in the magnetic electron drift vortex mode

Abstract

Ordered structures as well as chaotic motion of the magnetic electron drift vortex (MEDV) mode in a unmagnetized nonuniform plasma are discussed. In the collisionless limit, the nonlinear MEDV waves can self-organize into dipolar vortices or vortex chains. The latter exist in the regime where dipolar vortices are forbidden. When dissipation is included, the governing equations for the MEDV mode can be cast into the form of the Lorenz equations, so that chaotic solutions can exist.