Is this an idea or a device? (fusion plasma confinement configuration)

In summary, a fusion plasma confinement configuration is a type of device used in fusion energy research to contain and control plasma for nuclear fusion. Its purpose is to create a stable environment for fusion reactions to occur, achieved through magnetic and electric fields and physical barriers. There are different types of configurations, each with their own advantages and challenges, and they are essential to the study and development of fusion energy technologies.
  • #1
bayakiv
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TL;DR Summary
Is there a device (fusion power) that combines both a tokamak and a magnetic mirror with electrostatic plasma confinement?
The idea itself is to create in a toroidal chamber a spiral-shaped plasma filament with a singularity in the form of a ring of rotating plasma, in which the concentration of ions and the duration of nuclear interaction increase during electrostatic compression. For this, it is proposed to wind a winding on the torus so that its density increases as it approaches the singularity that forms the ring of the rotating plasma, and both alternating and direct voltage should be applied to the torus winding.
 
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Probably the most interesting case of this toy model would be when the radius of the rotating ring of plasma ions would approach the radius of the Larmor circle . Then the nuclear interaction would not be collisional (temperature), but collective, in which a chain of nuclei +++++++ is closed in a ring and therefore the probability of merging of some links of this chain increases.
 
  • #3
It seems that it is time to reinforce with formulas the condition of equality of the radius of the ionic ring formed by the electric field and the radius of the Larmor circle of rotating ions formed by the magnetic field.
Since we have ##R_{E}=\frac{mv^{2}}{q|E|}## and ##R_{B}=\frac{m|v|}{q|B|}## then the condition ##R_{E}=R_{B}## implies $$\frac{|E|}{|v|}=|B|=\rm{const}$$ And since the law of conservation of angular momentum implies a quadratic increase in the speed of the ring during its compression, then in order to fulfill equality ##R_{E}=R_{B}## during compression of the ring of ions it is necessary to use an electrostatic field, the value of which is inversely proportional to the square of the radius. It should also be noted that due to the Maxwell distribution of ion velocities, our ring is in fact a disk.

P.S. Do you think the name "tornado" is suitable for this toy reactor?
 
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  • #4
bayakiv said:
Probably the most interesting case of this toy model would be when the radius of the rotating ring of plasma ions would approach the radius of the Larmor circle . Then the nuclear interaction would not be collisional (temperature), but collective, in which a chain of nuclei +++++++ is closed in a ring and therefore the probability of merging of some links of this chain increases.
I will try to explain my idea. To overcome the Coulomb barrier in the collision of a pair of ions of a chaotic plasma, they need to have high velocities (the plasma must be high-temperature), and to overcome the Coulomb barrier of a pair of ions in a rotating plasma, it is not the rotation rate that is important, but the number of ions that fit on their collective trajectory. If pairs of neighboring ions are at a relatively close distance during collective motion along a circle for a long time, then the probability of their nuclear fusion increases strongly. In addition, the accelerating mechanism can play a role here, since the density of ions increases sharply with rapid compression of the ring. By the way, it is possible that the phenomenon of sonoluminescence can be explained through an avalanche-like increase in the concentration of gas atoms in the near-wall region of the collapsing bubble.

P.S. It is possible that with a long time of interaction of nuclei it will be necessary to apply the generalized Schrödinger equation, therefore, just in case, I will write it out here
$$
\begin{equation}
\mathrm{i}\frac{\partial \psi(t,x)}{\partial t}= -\frac{\mathrm{e}^{-t\beta}}{4\pi} \frac{\partial^2 \psi(t,x)}{\partial x^2}
\end{equation}
$$
P.P.S. You will say that all this is theory, and where the experiment is and you will be right. However, what are your suggestions?
 
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  • #5
bayakiv said:
Summary:: Is there a device (fusion power) that combines both a tokamak and a magnetic mirror with electrostatic plasma confinement?

The idea itself is to create in a toroidal chamber a spiral-shaped plasma filament with a singularity in the form of a ring of rotating plasma, in which the concentration of ions and the duration of nuclear interaction increase during electrostatic compression. For this, it is proposed to wind a winding on the torus so that its density increases as it approaches the singularity that forms the ring of the rotating plasma, and both alternating and direct voltage should be applied to the torus winding.
Using the PF to help with your personal research / personal theory development is not allowed. After a Mentor discussion, this thread is closed.
 
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1. What is fusion plasma confinement?

Fusion plasma confinement is a method used in nuclear fusion reactors to contain and control the extremely hot and dense plasma needed for nuclear fusion reactions. It involves using magnetic fields or other means to confine the plasma and prevent it from coming into contact with the walls of the reactor, which would cause it to lose energy and disrupt the fusion process.

2. How does fusion plasma confinement work?

There are several different types of fusion plasma confinement configurations, but they all work by using magnetic fields to contain the plasma. This can be done with a variety of different shapes and arrangements of magnets, such as tokamaks, stellarators, and magnetic mirrors. The goal is to create a stable, high-temperature plasma that can sustain fusion reactions for a long period of time.

3. What is the difference between an idea and a device in fusion plasma confinement?

An idea in fusion plasma confinement refers to a theoretical concept or design for a fusion reactor, while a device refers to an actual physical implementation of that idea. For example, a tokamak is a device that uses the idea of magnetic confinement to contain fusion plasma, while a stellarator is another device that uses a different idea for plasma confinement.

4. What are the challenges in developing fusion plasma confinement configurations?

There are several challenges in developing fusion plasma confinement configurations. One major challenge is finding ways to contain the extremely hot and dense plasma for long periods of time without it coming into contact with the walls of the reactor. Another challenge is finding materials that can withstand the extreme temperatures and radiation inside the reactor. Additionally, the design and engineering of fusion reactors is complex and requires extensive research and development.

5. What are the potential benefits of fusion plasma confinement?

If successful, fusion plasma confinement could provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy, as fusion reactions produce no greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste. It could also reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and provide a more sustainable energy source for the future. Additionally, fusion reactions use hydrogen isotopes found in seawater, making the fuel supply abundant and accessible.

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