THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF PLASMA CONFINEMENT IN A ROTATING MAGNETIC FIELD
Abstract
The physical reasoning which led to the conclusion that particle trajectories in a rotating field are stable in the plane of rotation is reviewed as an introduction to the concept of plasma confinement in a rotating field. The magnetic field's relation to Maxwell's equations is discussed and the induced electric field is presented, whereupon the equations of motion and their exact general solutions are given. The orbits of particles are derived for special limiting cases on the basis of the general solutions, and the orbits are compared with the analog computer solutions of the equations. It is shown that a rotating magnetic field alone is not enough to confine a plasma, but that the rotating field used in conjunction with other types of stationary fields should result in an effective plasma containment device. Finally, two additional, physically-possible rotating fields are introduced and their properties are discussed briefly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 25, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0658383
Entities
People
- D. K. Taylor
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University