PLASMA HEATING BY CURRENT-SATURATION

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1959 · Nature

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/1841790a0· OSTI ID:4199562

George, K A

During attempts to produce high-temperature plasma in a toroidal discharge by means of large induced currents it was noted that acceleration of ions takes place as indicated by the anisotropy of neutron distribution and by the Doppler shift of spectral lines. Ion acceleration was found to be possible when the ion-electron collision cross section became small, a condition which sets in when the electrons begin to run away. Methods for estimating the runaway condition are discussed. It is suggested that the process which produces runaway ions may be exploited to increase the energy density of the plasma even though such a plasma is not in thermodynamic equilibrium. (C.H.)

• Research Organization: Tata Inst. of Fundamental Research, Bombay (India)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-14-007049
• OSTI ID: 4199562
• Journal Information: Nature, Vol. Vol: 184 Suppl. 23; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
ANISOTROPY
CROSS SECTIONS
CURRENTS
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
ENERGY
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INDUCTION
INTERACTIONS
IONS
PLASMA
SPECTRA
SPECTRAL SHIFT
STABILITY
THERMODYNAMICS
TORUS
VELOCITY