Transition layer between two magnetized plasmas

Abstract

Structures of the current layer between two magnetized anisothermal plasmas are studied on the basis of a kinetic formulation. It is shown that the structure of the current layer is dominantly controlled by the hotter species of the plasmas. The thickness is characterized by the ion gyroradius if the ion temperature is much greater than the electron temperature. The structure is, in general, insensitive to the asymptotic potential difference and the relative flow velocity between plasmas on the two sides.