Cross-field diffusion in low-temperature plasma discharges of finite length

The long-standing problem of plasma diffusion across a magnetic field (B-field) is reviewed, with emphasis on low-temperature linear devices of finite length with the magnetic field aligned along an axis of symmetry. In these partially ionized plasmas, cross-field transport is dominated by ion–neutral collisions and can be treated simply with fluid equations. Nonetheless, electron confinement is complicated by sheath effects at the endplates, and these must be accounted for to get agreement with experiment. (paper)