Plasma sheet coefficient of diffusion: Predictions and observations Original Research Article

The theory of a plasma sheet with medium scale developed turbulence predicts a value for the plasma sheet diffusion coefficient in the Z direction. Its value becomes very near to the diffusion coefficient calculated from the assumption of isotropic turbulence on the basis of ISEE-2 velocity fluctuations in the X and Y directions. INTERBALL/Tail CORALL bulk velocity measurements make it possible to determine velocity fluctuations in the Z direction and calculate the diffusion coefficient in this Z direction. It is shown that INTERBALL/Tail observations are in very good agreement with theory predictions.