Non-resistive electric potential drops in cosmical plasmas

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Abstract
Electric potential drops in collisionless magnetized cosmical plasmas can be highly effective in energizing charged particles. In particular this is true for potential drops along magnetic field lines. Until recently such potential drops have almost without exception been considered possible only in situations where an anomalous resistivity exists (usually as a consequence of current‐driven ’’turbulence’’). However, experiments in the laboratory have shown that potential drops of a different nature do exist, and these may be at least as important. Two main types have been identified. One is the so‐called electric double‐layer, where the potential drop is localized to a thin region with an extent of the order of only some tens of Debye lengths. the other is a kind of potential drops maintained by the restraining effect of magnetic mirrors on charge carriers. Both types are characterized by the absence of a local relation between electric field and current density, and in both cases the circuit aspect must be taken into account. The potential drops can be associated with varying degrees of high frequency noise. The distribution functions of the energized particles are different thant those characterizing resistivity, classical or anomalous.

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