Abstract
The simplest way to describe a plasma is by following the trajectories of individual particles in given electric and magnetic fields. This single-particle model describes various drift-motions in inhomogeneous, curved or time-dependent fields. Electrons and ions perform gyro-orbits, which can be considered as small diamagnetic current loops, which can be trapped by inhomogeneous magnetic field in “mirror” geometries. The magnetic confinement of plasmas is described for tokamak and stellarator geometries.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe.
Lewis Carroll, Jabberwocky
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Sometimes called Newton–Lorentz equation.
- 2.
Tokamak is a Russian acronym meaning toroidal chamber with magnetic field coils.
- 3.
Lyman Spitzer (1914–1997) originally devised a figure-eight stellarator. The name alludes to the Latin word stella for star.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Piel, A. (2017). Single Particle Motion in Electric and Magnetic Fields. In: Plasma Physics. Graduate Texts in Physics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63427-2_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63427-2_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63425-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63427-2
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)