Electron vortex generation by strong, localized plasma heating

The generation of electron vortical structures by strong localized heating is investigated analytically and numerically. The structure formation and its dynamics are described by the model of electron magnetohydrodynamics, extended to include pressure effects. Magnetic structures are generated by the thermal electromotive force that arises due to nonalignment of pressure and density gradients. Their topology is determined by the heating power and the equilibrium density gradient. It is shown that strong localized heating of a nonuniform plasma generates vortical structures that are capable of confining and transporting heat across the plasma. The long term behavior of the structures agrees qualitatively with stationary equilibrium solutions. As these structures survive for rather long times, a filamentary profile of the temperature develops. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.