Formation of nonquasineutral vortex plasma structures with a zero net current

A nonquasineutral vortex structure with a zero net current is described that arises as a result of electron drift in crossed magnetic and electric fields, the latter being produced by charge separation on a spatial scale of about the magnetic Debye radius r _B = |B|/(4πen _e ). In such a structure with a radius of r ～ r _B , the magnetic field is maintained by a drift current on the order of the electron Alfvén current J _Ae = m _e c ³/(2e) and can become as strong as B ? m _e c ²/(er). Estimates show that, in a plasma with a density of n _e = 10²¹?10²³ cm^?3 and with nonzero electron vorticity driven by high-power laser radiation on a time scale on the order of θ _pe ^?1 , magnetic fields with a strength of B ～ 10⁸?10⁹ G are generated on micron and submicron scales. The system with closed current that is considered in the present paper can also serve as a model of hot spots in the channel of a Z-pinch.