  Experiments are reported where a collisionfree plasma cloud penetrates a
magnetic barrier by self-polarization. We here focus on the resulting anomalous
magnetic field diffusion into the plasma cloud, two orders of magnitude faster
than classical, which is one important aspect of the plasma cloud penetration
mechanism. Without such fast magnetic diffusion, clouds with kinetic beta below
unity would not be able to penetrate magnetic barriers at all. Tailor-made
diagnostics has been used for measurements in the parameter range with the
kinetic beta ? 0.5 to 10, and with normalized width w/r(gi) of the order of
unity. Experimental data on hf fluctuations in density and in electric field
has been combined to yield the effective anomalous transverse resistivity
eta(EFF). It is concluded that they are both dominated by highly nonlinear
oscillations in the lower hybrid range, driven by a strong diamagnetic current
loop that is set up in the plasma in the penetration process. The anomalous
magnetic diffusion rate, calculated from the resistivity eta(EFF), is
consistent with single-shot multi-probe array measurements of the diamagnetic
cavity and the associated quasi-dc electric structure. An interpretation of the
instability measurements in terms of the resistive term in the generalized (low
frequency) Ohm's law is given.
