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What are the effects of E X B plasma drift in polywell?

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:12 pm
by Robthebob
See topic, since polywell relies on both E fields and B fields to work, I was wondering how the plasma drift affects the ions and electrons.

Re: What are the effects of E X B plasma drift in polywell?

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:44 pm
by Art Carlson
Robthebob wrote:See topic, since polywell relies on both E fields and B fields to work, I was wondering how the plasma drift affects the ions and electrons.
The lowest order effect will be that the plasma on the surface of the ball (I use the term loosely, since the shape is more like a hedgehog) will spin around the point cusps. Next order? I suppose viscosity will cause some of the bulk plasma to spin, too, and slow down the surface. Slowing the surface should pull the ions in tighter, I think. Might actually be interesting to look into it (although I suspect it won't be a large effect).

Re: What are the effects of E X B plasma drift in polywell?

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:34 am
by vernes
Art Carlson wrote:Might actually be interesting to look into it (although I suspect it won't be a large effect).
If this would be a movie, the camera would keep you on screen a bit longer and slightly zoom into your face to make the viewer remember this scene a bit better.