Barriers to field line transport in 3D magnetic con figurations

The transport properties of magnetized plasma configurations are studied that arise from a one-dimensional, current layer that is unstable to reconnecting modes. These magnetic configurations are partially stochastic. It is shown that ridges in the Finite Time Lyapunov Exponents (FTLE) distribution are aligned with the invariant manifolds related to the lines of uniform hyperbolicity. It is shown that these ridges form approximate Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCS) and act as barriers to the transport of magnetic field lines.