Propagation of electron magnetohydrodynamic structures in a two-dimensional inhomogeneous plasma

Abstract

The fully three-dimensional governing equations in the electron magnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) regime for a plasma with inhomogeneous density are obtained. These equations in the two-dimensional limit can be cast in terms of the evolution of two coupled scalar fields. The nonlinear simulations for the two-dimensional case are carried out to understand the propagation of EMHD magnetic structures in the presence of inhomogeneity. A novel effect related to the trapping of dipolar magnetic structures in the high density plasma region in the EMHD regime is observed. The interpretation of this phenomena as well as its relevance to the problem of hot spot generation in the context of fast ignition is presented.