Diffusion and Recombination of a Highly Ionized Cold Plasma in a Magnetic Field

Measurements of the diffusion coefficients of cold, highly ionized cesium and potassium plasmas across a magnetic field are described. The field was varied between 3000 and 9000 gauss, the ion density between 1010 cm−3 and 1012 cm−3. No current was passed through the plasma. The results support the view that diffusion proceeds according to the predictions of the classical theory (D⊥ ∼ 1/B2). No agreement is possible with Bohm's diffusion theory. Also, some support is given to the theory of recombination through electron-electron-ion collisions and radiative cascading between excited states.