Weakly magnetized, Hall dominated plasma Couette flow

Abstract

A novel plasma equilibrium in the high-$\beta$, Hall regime that produces centrally-peaked, high Mach number Couette flow is described. Flow is driven using a weak, uniform magnetic field and large, cross field currents. Large magnetic field amplification (factor 20) due to the Hall effect is observed when electrons are flowing radially inward, and near perfect field expulsion is observed when the flow is reversed. A dynamic equilibrium is reached between the amplified (removed) field and extended density gradients.

6 pages, 5 figures. Submitted to Physical Review Letters on 6/16/2020. Re-submitted with edits based on reviewer comments on 8/6/2020

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