Exploring the Role of Electrons in Polywell Fusion Reactors

[Crazymechanic]

Hi , now I was thinking what happens with the electrons that are in the middle of the polywell trapped by the magnetic field coming from the coils?
Assuming there is plasma and some fusion takes place at some rate " x" , what actually happens with the electrons in the middle , do they say there and keep the negative potential or are they slowly drifting away with time due to the magnetic field and the protons hitting them ?

 

[Drakkith]

They stay in the center and form a negative potential well except for the ones that manage to leak out between the magnets.

 

[Crazymechanic]

so your saying that no matter how intense the fusion rate if the magnetic fields are strong enough and keep them in the middle long enough , they will stay there , if only for the mag field being nonuniform they can leak otherwise their steady there ?
By steady I mean , as steady as a charged particle can be in a magnetic field , ofcourse it will drift away after a while probably.

 

[Drakkith]

The field from each electromagnet interacts with the other fields from the other magnets and forms a "cusp". The cusp is the region where the magnetic field lines meet. Electrons can leak out through these cusps. Other than leaving through the cusps, electrons can get ejected if you give them a large enough kick, but the temperature of the plasma in the polywell isn't high enough to give them this kick as far as I know.

 

[sardar]

I am very interested in the topic of polywell fusion reactors and the role of electrons in this technology. To answer your question, let's first understand the basic principles of polywell fusion.

Polywell fusion reactors use a magnetic field created by coils to trap and confine plasma, which is a hot and ionized gas made up of electrons and positively charged ions. The goal is to heat the plasma to extreme temperatures and pressures, causing the ions to collide and fuse, releasing a tremendous amount of energy.

Now, to address your question about the electrons in the middle of the polywell. These electrons are indeed trapped by the magnetic field and play a crucial role in the fusion process. They are responsible for maintaining the negative potential in the center of the polywell, which helps to keep the ions confined and prevents them from escaping.

As for the fate of these electrons, it is important to note that in a plasma, particles are constantly moving and colliding with each other. This means that the electrons in the middle of the polywell are not completely stationary, but rather they are in constant motion. The magnetic field does not cause them to drift away, but rather it helps to keep them confined within the polywell.

In addition, the electrons are also constantly interacting with the ions, which can cause them to lose energy and eventually be pulled towards the positively charged ions. This process is known as electron-ion drag and it helps to maintain the stability of the plasma.

In summary, the electrons in the middle of the polywell are crucial for maintaining the negative potential and confining the ions. They are not drifting away due to the magnetic field, but rather they are in constant motion within the plasma. Further research and experiments are needed to fully understand the behavior of electrons in polywell fusion reactors and to optimize their role in the fusion process.