Collisional Relaxation and Heating in Multi-Ion Species Plasma

Multi-ion species plasma that is immersed in a magnetic field features distinct collisional timescales when external forces are applied to it. We identify and explore intermediate timescales and describe metastable states of such a plasma. In particular, we identify and discuss the temperature gradients that arise in the plasma. We compare plasma to a neutral gas, where related physics, i.e. the piezothermal effect [1], are observed. \newline References: [1] ``Piezothermal effect in a spinning gas" V. I. Geyko and N. J. Fisch, Phys. Rev. E 94, 042113 (2016). \newline [2] ``Strategies for advantageous differential transport of ions in magnetic fusion devices" E. J. Kolmes, I. E. Ochs, and N. J. Fisch, Phys. Plasmas 25, 032508 (2018).