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Ben.meyer
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Magnetic fusion is controlling plasma while its undergoing fusion. Right? Well if plasma is neutral, how can the magnetic fields affect it?
Right.alemsalem said:im not sure how it works, but i suspect that the positive and negative charges will spiral along the magnetic field lines with opposite senses (CW CCW)
Correct, nuclei and electrons spiral along the magnetic field lines, and by that, the magnetic field lines are used to exert pressure on the plasma. The magnetic field is applied from the outside, and the strength falls off with distance into the plasma. Inside the plasma, it's the collisions that maintain containment. Neutral atoms (from recombination) may leak out of the plasma.alemsalem said:currents running through wires are neutral but the magnetic field still affects them.
im not sure how it works, but i suspect that the positive and negative charges will spiral along the magnetic field lines with opposite senses (CW CCW)
Magnetic fusion is a process that involves fusing together two or more atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus. This is achieved by heating and compressing a plasma of hydrogen gas to extremely high temperatures and confining it using powerful magnetic fields. As the plasma gets hotter, the atoms within it move faster and collide more frequently, resulting in a fusion reaction.
A plasma is a state of matter that is created when a gas is heated to extremely high temperatures. At these temperatures, the electrons are stripped from the atoms, resulting in a gas of positively charged ions and free electrons. Plasmas are often referred to as the fourth state of matter and are essential for magnetic fusion to occur.
Magnetic fields are used to confine and control the hot plasma in a fusion reactor. These fields are created by powerful electromagnets that surround the plasma and shape it into a torus, or doughnut shape. By adjusting the strength and configuration of these magnetic fields, scientists can control the movement and stability of the plasma, allowing for a sustained fusion reaction.
One of the main challenges of magnetic fusion is creating and sustaining the extremely high temperatures and pressures required for fusion to occur. This requires a significant amount of energy, and current fusion reactors are not yet able to produce more energy than they consume. Additionally, controlling and stabilizing the plasma is a complex and delicate process that requires precise control over the magnetic fields.
If we can successfully achieve fusion using magnetic fields, it could provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy. Fusion reactions release large amounts of energy and produce very little waste, making it a much more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source compared to fossil fuels. Fusion could also help reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources and mitigate the effects of climate change.