Can Protons or Positrons Flow as a Current?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Protons and positrons can indeed flow as a current, defined as any flow of charge. In particle accelerators, high-energy proton beams are accelerated in opposite directions until they collide, demonstrating a form of current. Additionally, in plasma, both electrons and positive ions flow under an applied voltage, allowing for the movement of positive charges. This contrasts with solid conductors, where positive ions are fixed in the crystal lattice and only electrons are mobile.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of particle accelerators and their operation
  • Knowledge of plasma physics and ionized gases
  • Familiarity with electric current definitions and types
  • Basic concepts of solid-state physics regarding charge mobility
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the operation of particle accelerators, focusing on proton collisions
  • Explore the properties and behavior of plasma in various applications
  • Study the differences between solid conductors and gaseous conductors
  • Learn about the role of magnetic fields in confining charged particles
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, electrical engineers, and students interested in advanced concepts of charge flow and particle physics.

lufc88
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Instead of electrical current could there ever be a situation where protons or positrons are made to flow as a current?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
lufc88 said:
Instead of electrical current could there ever be a situation where protons or positrons are made to flow as a current?

Any flow of charge constitutes a current, and I think you might even call it an "electric" current, even if it doesn't consist of electrons.

In particle accelerators, two beams of high energy protons (confined by magnetic fields) are accelerated around a ring in opposite directions until they collide into each other. I'm not sure about a situation in which there is a positron current.

In a plasma (like the ionized gas in a fluorescent light tube or one of those Geiger counters), both the electrons and the positive ions flow under the presence of an applied voltage (they just flow in opposite directions). It's only in a solid (as opposed to gaseous) conductor that the positive ions are restricted to be in the crystal lattice and only the electrons are mobile. So a plasma is another situation where you have a flow of positive charges.
 
Thread 'Colors in a plasma globe'

Thread 'Colors in a plasma globe'

I have a common plasma globe with blue streamers and orange pads at both ends. The orange light is emitted by neon and the blue light is presumably emitted by argon and xenon. Why are the streamers blue while the pads at both ends are orange? A plasma globe's electric field is strong near the central electrode, decreasing with distance, so I would not expect the orange color at both ends.
View full post »

Similar threads

High School Coil that conducts direct current
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Can energy be extracted from a proton beam using a current transformer?
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
High School Can a hypothetical atom be made out of positrons and electrons ?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Magnetic field around a conductor with protons?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Undergrad Alternating current in a perfect conductor
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
High School Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
580
Undergrad Can current flow in an open circuit?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
A question on electric current's density & flow.
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Undergrad Molten metal flow due to high currents
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Current of Electrons: Magnetic Field & Protons
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K