Scribd
Upload
27 views

Physics of Fusion Power

Lecture on Physics of fusion power

Uploaded by

jabjbackup
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
27 views

Physics of Fusion Power

Lecture on Physics of fusion power

Uploaded by

jabjbackup
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 22

Physics of fusion power

Lecture 5: particle motion


Gyro motion
 The Lorentz force leads to
a gyration of the particles
around the magnetic field

 We will write the motion as


The Lorentz force leads to a
gyration of the charged particles
Parallel and rapid gyro-motion around the field line
Typical values
 For 10 keV and B = 5T. The Larmor radius of the Deuterium
ions is around 4 mm for the electrons around 0.07 mm
 Note that the alpha particles have an energy of 3.5 MeV and
consequently a Larmor radius of 5.4 cm
 Typical values of the cyclotron frequency are 80 MHz for
Hydrogen and 130 GHz for the electrons
 Often the frequency is much larger than that of the physics
processes of interest. One can average over time
 One can not however neglect the finite Larmor radius since it
lead to specific effects (although it is small)
Additional Force F
 Consider now a finite additional force F

 For the parallel motion this leads to a trivial acceleration

 Perpendicular motion: The equation above is a linear ordinary


differential equation for the velocity. The gyro-motion is the
homogeneous solution. The inhomogeneous solution
Drift velocity
 Inhomogeneous solution

 Solution of the equation


Physical picture of the drift
 The force accelerates the particle leading to a higher velocity
 The higher velocity however means a larger Larmor radius
 The circular orbit no longer closes on itself
 A drift results.

Physics picture behind


the drift velocity FxB
Electric field
 Using the formula

 And the force due to the electric field

 One directly obtains the so-called ExB velocity


Note this drift is independent of the
charge as well as the mass of the
particles
Electric field that depends on time
 If the electric field depends on time, an additional
drift appears

Polarization drift. Note this


drift is proportional to the
mass and therefore much
larger for the ions compared
with the electrons
Meaning of the drifts
 Assume a Force F on each
ion in the x-direction

 Electrons are stationary

Drawing of the slab of plasma with a


force F on the ions in the x-direction
Drift leads to charge separation
 The drift of the ions leads
to charge separation.
 A small charge separation
will lead to a large electric
field, i.e. a build up of an
electric field can be
expected
 This would lead to a
polarization drift
 Quasi-neutrality

Drawing of the slab of plasma with a


force F on the ions in the x-direction
Electric field evolution
 The polarization drift
balances the drift due to
the force

 The plasma remains quasi-


neutral, and the electric
field can be calculated from
the polarization drift

Drawing of the slab of plasma with a


force F on the ions in the x-direction
The next drift : The ExB velocity
 The electric field evolution

 leads to an ExB velocity

 Substituting the electric field


The ExB velocity
 The ExB velocity

 Satisfies the equation

 Chain. Force leads to drift.


Polarization drift balances
the drift and leads to
electric field, ExB velocity is
in the direction of the force
Motion due to the ExB velocity
Meaning of the drifts
 In a homogeneous plasma

Free motion ExB drift velocity. Polarization drift. Allows


along the Provides for a for the calculation of the
field line motion of the electric field evolution
plasma as a whole under the quasi-
Fast gyration (no difference neutrality assumption.
around the between electrons Provides for momentum
field lines and ions) conservation.
Inhomogeneous magnetic fields
 When the magnetic field
strength is a function of
position the Lorentz force
varies over the orbit
 Taking two points A and B

Drawing of the Grad-B force


Inhomogeneous magnetic field
 Force due to magnetic field
gradient is directed such
that the particle tries to
escape the magnetic field

 Leads to the grad-B drift


Curvature drift
 A particle moving along a
curved field line
experiences a centrifugal
force

 For a low beta plasma

Centrifugal force due to the motion


along a curved magnetic field
Drifts due to the inhomogeneous
field
 The drifts due to the inhomogeneous field
(curvature and grad-B)

Scales as v Scales as 1/L where L is the


scale length of the magnetic field
 The drift due to the magnetic field in homogeneity is
in general much smaller than the thermal velocity
All together ….

Gyration Grad-B and curvature drift


Pololarization drift
Parallel motion
ExB drift

You might also like