How Does Compressing Fully Ionized Gas Accelerate Ions to High Energies?

AI Thread Summary
Fully ionized gas, when compressed to a millimeter-scale cylinder, can rapidly collapse and accelerate electrons and ions to high energies, reaching MeV levels. The discussion centers on the mechanisms of acceleration, particularly how a magnetic field can compress ions and generate an electric field that facilitates this acceleration. The concept of a Z-pinch is introduced, where a time-varying magnetic field may produce the necessary electric fields to energize the ions. Participants emphasize the need for a clear description of the experimental setup to better understand the underlying physics. The conversation ultimately seeks to clarify the relationship between magnetic pressure and electric field generation in this context.
naviakam
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Fully ionized gas, if compressed to a cylinder of mm scale, collapses rapidly and accelerates the e/ions to very high energies (MeV). The temperature in the compressed gas is around 100 eV.
What could be the possible acceleration mechanism?
 
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Let me re-write it as:
Ionized gas (as a result of kV potential), if compressed (by magnetic field) to a mm cylinder, collapses rapidly and accelerates the e/ions to MeV.
What could be the possible acceleration mechanism?
 
The question is how a magnetic field, while compresses the ions, cause acceleration? How the related equation could be written for such condition?
 
Are you asking about a Z-pinch?
What's a moving magnetic field in one reference frame is an electric field in another.
 
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mfb said:
Are you asking about a Z-pinch?
What's a moving magnetic field in one reference frame is an electric field in another.
I don't know about "Z-pinch"?
Just interested to know (with BSc phys knowledge):
Isn’t it possible that time varying magnetic field surrounding ions, produces an electric field that accelerates the enclosed ions? And write down the equation!
In other word, how magnetic pressure produces electric field to energize the ions enclosed?
 
naviakam said:
I don't know about "Z-pinch"?
Wikipedia has an article about it. I even linked to the article.

Before there is any chance to answer your question you need to clearly describe the setup you think about. Hand-waving around isn't sufficient.
 
mfb said:
Wikipedia has an article about it. I even linked to the article.

Before there is any chance to answer your question you need to clearly describe the setup you think about. Hand-waving around isn't sufficient.
I found this explanation in an article that probably describe what I am looking for but ask to help me to understand it:
1612199292539.png

There are a few points here:
It's a ring type current, I(r).
Current density variation means that the current at each r has a different value.
If these two are correct then what does it mean that 1. the current variation toward axis results in a magnetic field 2. variation in r direction yields azimuthal magnetic field (theta) and axial electric field (z).
 
Are you trying to design a plasma engine?
 
jedishrfu said:
Are you trying to design a plasma engine?
Not designing anything, just to understand which approach defines the condition and physically could be explained.
 
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