Transverse conductivity of a relativistic plasma in oblique electric and magnetic fields
Abstract
Resistive tearing is a primary candidate for flares occurring in stressed magnetic fields. Its possible application to the strongly magnetized environments (Hz~1012 G) near the surfaces of neutron stars motivates a quantum treatment of this process, which requires knowledge of the electrical conductivity σ of a relativistic gas in a new domain, i.e., that of a low-density (ne) plasma in oblique electric [E=(0,Ey,Ez)] and magnetic fields. We derive the mathematical formalism for calculating σ and present numerical results for the range of parameter values 109<=Hz<=1012 G, Ez/Hz<~10-4, Ey<~10-4H2z/Ez, and 1020<=ne<=1025 cm-3. We find that σ~E2yEzn2e/H2z over this range.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- January 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.43.319
- Bibcode:
- 1991PhRvD..43..319M