Magnetized Rutherford scattering angle for electron-ion collision in plasma

TL;DR

This paper derives an analytical magnetized Rutherford scattering formula for electron-ion collisions in plasma under weak magnetic fields, revealing how magnetic fields influence scattering angles.

Contribution

It introduces a new magnetized Rutherford scattering formula applicable to plasma environments with magnetic fields, expanding classical scattering theory.

Findings

Scattering angle decreases with increasing magnetic field.

Scattering angle reduces significantly with larger incident distance and velocity.

Theoretical results align well with numerical calculations.

Abstract

Rutherford scattering formula plays an important role in plasma classical transport. It is urgent to need a magnetized Rutherford scattering formula since the magnetic field increases significantly in different fusion areas (e.g. tokamak magnetic field, self-generated magnetic field, and compressed magnetic field). The electron-ion Coulomb collisions perpendicular to the external magnetic field are studied in this paper. The scattering angle is defined according to the electron trajectory and asymptotic line (without magnetic field). A magnetized Rutherford scattering formula is obtained analytically under the weak magnetic field approximation. It is found that the scattering angle decreases as external magnetic field increases. It is easy to find the scattering angle decreasing significantly as incident distance, and incident velocity increasing. It is shown that the theoretical results agree well with numerical calculation by checking the dependence of scattering angle on external magnetic field.