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chandrahas
- 72
- 2
Magnetic mirrors were thought to be a viable solution for fusion power. But then, we found out that most of the plasma would simply escape. Is this right? So, then we realized that this method might not work. So after many years, Lockheed has come up with a similar model.
But what I don't understand is, didn't we try magnetic mirrors before and learn that they are not the best? Lockheed just added cusps which in my opinion just makes it worse because the plasma can also leak through the cusps and not just through the sides.
- Lockheeds model is basically a cusp confinement device. It creates null points and the field lines get denser as we move out radially. But along the axis, we have open field lines and plasma can escape along those lines. Now, according to what I read, lockheed uses magnetic coils to create a magnetic mirror effect. Hence, the particles would just get reflected.
But what I don't understand is, didn't we try magnetic mirrors before and learn that they are not the best? Lockheed just added cusps which in my opinion just makes it worse because the plasma can also leak through the cusps and not just through the sides.
- My question is, what changes in the model did lockheed bring into make a working model. Did they introduce any other aspects that aid in plasma confinement that I am not aware of? Or is it just this? But wouldn't it most likely fail if there are no new ideas other that the cusps and mirrors involved?