Viscosity in a magnetized plasma: Physical interpretation
Abstract
We provide a physically motivated alternate derivation of the ɛ0 terms in the viscous stress tensor given by Braginskii (1965) and others. We show that the ɛ0 terms are fully accounted for by a gyrotropic diagonal pressure tensor; off-diagonal terms do not contribute to the ɛ0 part of the viscous stress. The ɛ0 part of the viscous stress results from the plasma's tendency to develop small thermal anisotropies as it evolves. Collisions oppose the production of anisotropy and ultimately lead to irreversible heating.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- August 1985
- DOI:
- 10.1029/JA090iA08p07620
- Bibcode:
- 1985JGR....90.7620H
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Plasma;
- Flow Velocity;
- Hydrogen Plasma;
- Plasmas (Physics);
- Viscosity;
- Conservation Equations;
- Degrees Of Freedom;
- Reynolds Number