Effect of a Magnetic Field on Electrical Conductivity of a Partially Ionized Plasma

Solar electrical conductivity has been calculated, making use of Yun and Wyller's formulation. The computed results arc presented in a tabulated form as functions of temperature and pressure for given magnetic field strengths. The results of the calculation show that the magnetic field does not play any important role in characterizing the electrical conductivity of the ionized gas when the gas pressure is relatively high (e.g., $P{\geq}10^4\;dynes/cm^2$). However, when the gas pressure is low (e.g., $P{\leq}10\;dynes/cm^2$), the magnetic field becomes very effective even if its field strength is quite small (e.g., $B{\leq}0.01$ gauss). It is also found that, except for lower temperature region (e.g., $T{\leq}10^{4^{\circ}}K$), there is a certain linear relationship in a log- log graph between the pressure and the critical magnetic field strength, which is defined as a field strength capable of reducing the non-magnetic component of the electrical conductivity by 20%.