The Effect of Correlations on the Heat Transport in a Magnetized Plasma

TL;DR

This study reveals that in strongly correlated magnetized plasmas, magnetic fields can enhance parallel heat transport and reduce perpendicular transport less than in ideal plasmas, challenging classical expectations.

Contribution

It demonstrates, through molecular dynamics simulations, that correlations significantly alter heat transport behavior in magnetized plasmas, showing enhancement of parallel heat conductivity.

Findings

Magnetic fields can enhance parallel heat transport in strongly correlated plasmas.

Perpendicular heat conductivity is less reduced by magnetic fields in correlated plasmas.

Correlations modify the classical anisotropic heat transport in magnetized plasmas.

Abstract

In a classical ideal plasma, a magnetic field is known to reduce the heat conductivity perpendicular to the field whereas it does not alter the one along the field. Here we show that, in strongly correlated plasmas that are observed at high pressure or/and low temperature, a magnetic field reduces the perpendicular heat transport much less and even {\it enhances} the parallel transport. These surprising observations are explained by the competition of kinetic, potential and collisional contributions to the heat conductivity. Our results are based on first principle molecular dynamics simulations of a one-component plasma.