The role of magnetic helicity for field line diffusion and drift

Aims. This paper discusses the systematic drift of magnetic field lines under the influence of asymmetric turbulence where the asymmetry is caused by Alfvén wave helicity. Methods. The basic method of investigation is numerically tracing random magnetic field lines to discuss the average displacement of field lines owing to the asymmetric turbulence. Results. The main result is that as long as one has any non-zero degree of asymmetric turbulence, there is a systematic drift of field lines on average; an effect not seen when the turbulence is taken to be symmetric. This result implies that diffusion of field lines takes place relative to the mean drift and so alters the consequences for discussions of field line diffusion.