ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL CHARGED-PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN MIRROR-CUSP MAGNETIC FIELDS.
Abstract
The report reviews the derivation of the equations for generating simple magnetic fields from infinitely thin closed-current loops, infinitely thin straight current-carrying elements, and rectangular cross-sectioned coils, as well as some techniques for generating complex magnetic fields by combining simple magnetic-field-generating elements. A modified Runge Kutta type integration is employed along the path of a charged-particle orbit to show that, within a small element of the orbit, the average velocity is such that the instantaneous value of the magnetic moment of an energetic charged-particle exhibits a relative error of 0.0001 to 0.000001. The requirement of adiabaticity and its application to singly charged-particle motion in positive gradient magnetic fields is reviewed. Relative error in the computations is due to the integration techniques employed by the various computer codes. An analytical effort was conducted which applied the computer technique to a study of magnetic mirror-cusp plasma confinement systems. The computer analysis found the machine to be adiabatic. An analysis and experiment based on the electron analog of the AMC machine produced electron trajectories at low magnetic fields that predict the behaviour of high-energy protons in high magnetic fields. Experiments in the electron analog device verified charged-particle trajectories predicted by the computer. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0669055
Entities
People
- Elmer White
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory