Transport of Electrons in Tangled Magnetic Fields
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Cosmic magnetic fields are typically inhomogeneous and often highly tangled due to large-scale plasma flows, turbulence, and instabilities. If the variations in the magnetic field occur on scales that are large compared to the gyro-radius of the plasma electrons, the electrons are primarily confined to gyro-centre trajectories along the field lines. Therefore, in-situ electron measurements help us map out the connectivity of the magnetic field in space plasmas. Gyro-centre drifts, wave-particle interactions, trapping, and cross-field diffusion are processes related to field inhomogeneities and fluctuations; they have the potential to modify or even disrupt the transport of electrons along field lines. We introduce the basic principles of electron transport in tangled magnetic fields and review the creation of tangled fields through turbulence and instabilities as well as the modulation of parallel electron transport through kinetic instabilities. We then describe trapping and de-trapping effects in inhomogeneous magnetic fields, as well as electron diffusion and energisation across the magnetic field. The transport of electrons in tangled fields results from a complex interplay of plasma processes that occur on a broad range of scales. A combination of in-situ plasma measurements, remote-sensing plasma observations, and plasma theory and simulations is required to resolve this contemporary challenge to the fields of heliophysics and astrophysics.
Source: Space Science Reviews
Institutions: University College London, Northumbria University, University of California, Los Angeles, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Polytechnique, Université Paris-Saclay, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, Princeton University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, National Research Council, University of Chile, Uppsala University, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Goddard Space Flight Center, Heliophysics Science Division
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,290
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Swedish National Space Agency, Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca, Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, Vetenskapsrådet, Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, Science and Technology Facilities Council
Awards: G1049763022, Collaborative Research: Causes and Consequences of Relativistic Electron Precipitation as Revealed by the CubeSat Mission ELFIN’s Pitch-Angle Resolved Loss Cone Measurements, Solar System Consolidated Grant 2022-25, CubeSat: Electron Losses and Fields INvestigation (ELFIN), G4425131608, G54188565, G5477086343, G5626496924, G7307739112, New Applicant Grant: Exploring the connection between solar flare energetic electrons observed at the Sun and in the heliosphere, Magnetic reconnection: The importance of multiple micro-scales, CENTRO DE ASTROFISICA Y TECNOLOGIAS AFINES (CATA), STFC Consolidated Grant for the Solar and Space Physics Group at Northumbria University
OpenAlex ID: W7162186270