Anomalous electron energy transport by two-dimensional MEDV modes

It is found that the magnetic electron drift vortex (MEDV) modes can cause anomalous electron energy transport in collisionless non-uniform unmagnetized plasmas. An expression for the thermal conductivity is obtained using a quasilinear approach. The instabilities of MEDV modes, which previously were believed to be stable surface oscillations, and the associated thermal conductivity depends upon the component of wave vector in the direction of inhomogeneities. Some instabilities of magnetic perturbations previously predicted to exist in dissipative laser-produced plasmas are shown to be unrealistic. The results may be useful in the study of laser-produced as well as other plasmas.