Date: 01.10.
2020
Lecture 6
Plasma Physics ( Phys 403)
Single particle motion
Magnetic Mirrors: We consider a magnetic field which is
pointed primarily in the z direction and whose magnitude varies in the z
direction (Fig: 1).
Let the field be axisymmetric, with Bɵ = 0 and =0. Since the lines of
force converge and diverge, there is necessarily a component Br. We
wish to show that this gives rise to a force which can trap particle in a
magnetic field.
Fig: 1 - Drift of a particle in a magnetic mirror field
We can obtain Br from by using cylindrical coordinates(r,ɵ,z):
1 1 B Bz
(rBr ) 0 (1)
r r r z
If / = 0 is given at r = 0 and does not vary much with r, we have
approximately with Bɵ =O:
Bz 1 B
rBr r
r
dr r 2[ z ]r 0
0 z 2 z
1 B
Or, Br r[ z ]r 0 (2)
2 z
The variation of |B| with r causes a grad-B drift of guiding centers
about the axis of symmetry, but there is no radial grad-B drift, because
. The components of the Lorentz force are
Fr q(v Bz vz B )
(1)
F q(vr Bz vz Br ) (3)
(2) (3)
Fz q(vr B v Br )
(4)
Two terms vanishes if Bɵ =0,and terms (1) and (2) give rise to the usual
Larmor gyration. Term (3) vanishes on the axis; when it does not vanish,
this azimuthal force causes a drift in the radial direction. This drift
merely makes the guiding centers follow the lines of force. Term (4) is
the one we are interested. By using equation (2) we have thus
r Bz 1 B
Fz qv ( ) qv r z (4)
2 z 2 z
We must now average over one gyration. For simplicity, consider a
particle whose guiding center lies on the axis. Then vɵ is a constant
during a gyration; depending on the sign of q, vɵ is v⊥. since r = rL , the
average force is
1 Bz 1 v2 Bz 1 mv2 Bz B
Fz qv rL q z (5)
2 z 2 c z 2 B z z
2
Where, 1 mv is the magnetic moment of the gyrating particle.
2 B
This is a specific example of the force on a diamagnetic particle, which
in general can be written as
B
Fll ll B (6)
S
Where dS is a line element along B.
2
Note that the definition 1 mv is the same as the usual definition for
2 B
the magnetic moment of a current loop with area A and current I: i.e.,
μ= IA.
In the case of a singly charged ion, I is generated by a charge e coming
around ωc /2 times a second: I = e(ωc/2 ) . The area A is . Thus,
c v 2 ev 2 mv2
IA e( ) rL2 e( c ) 2
2 2 c 2c 2 B
1 mv2
Thus, (7)
2 B
As the particle moves into regions of stronger or weaker B, its Larmor
radius changes, but μ remains invariant. To prove this, consider the
component of the equation of motion along B:
dvll B
m (8)
dt S
Multiplying by vǁ on the left and its equivalent ds/dt on the right, we
have
dvll d 1 2 B dS dB
mvll ( mvll ) (9)
dt dt 2 S dt dt
Here dB/dt is the variation of B as seen by the particle; B itself is
constant.
The particle’s energy must be conserved, so we have
d 1 2 1 2 d 1
( mvll mv ) ( mvll2 B) 0 (10)
dt 2 2 dt 2
With equation (9) this becomes
dB d
(B) 0
dt dt
dB dB d
Or, B 0
dt dt dt
d
Or, 0
dt
i.e., μ = constant (11)
The invariance of μ is the basis for one of the primary schemes for
plasma confinement : the magnetic mirror.
As a particle moves from a week-field region to a strong-field region in
the course of its thermal motion, it sees an increasing B, and therefore
its v⊥ must increase in order to keep μ constant. Since its total energy
must remain constant, vǁ must necessarily decrease. If B is high enough
in the throat of the mirror, vǁ eventually becomes zero; and the particle
is reflected back to the weak-field region. It is, of course, the force Fǁ
which causes the reflection. The nonuniform field of a simple pair of
coils forms two magnetic mirrors between which a plasma can be
trapped. This effect works on both ions and electrons (Fig: 2).
Fig: 2 - A plasma trapped between magnetic mirrors
The trapping is not perfect, however. For instance, a particle with v⊥ = 0
Will have no magnetic moment and will not feel any force along B. A
particle with small v⊥/vǁ at the midplane (B= B0) will also escape if the
maximum field Bm is not large enough. For given B0 and Bm which
particle will escape?
A particle with v⊥ = v⊥0 and vǁ = vǁ0 at midplane will have v⊥ =v’⊥ and vǁ =
0 at its turning point. Let the field be B’ there.
Then the invariance of μ yields
1 2 1
mv 0 mv2
2 2 (12)
B0 B
Conservation of energy requires
v2 v2 0 vll20 v02 (13)
Combining (12) and (13), we find
B0 v2 0 v2 0
2 sin 2 (14)
B v 2 v0
Where ɵ is the pitch angle of the orbit in the weak-field region.
Particles with smaller ɵ will mirror in regions of higher B. If ɵ is too
small, B’ exceeds Bm; and the particle does not mirror at all.
Replacing B’ by Bm in equation (14), we see that the smallest ɵ of a
confined particles is given by
B0 1
sin 2 m (15)
Bm Rm
Where Rm is the mirror ratio. Equation (15) defines the boundary of a
region in velocity space in the shape of a cone, called a loss cone
(Fig: 3).
Fig: 3 – The loss cone
Particles lying within the loss cone are not confined. Consequently, a
mirror-confined plasma is never isotropic. Note that the loss cone is
independent of q or m. Without collisions, both ions and electrons are
equally well confined. When collisions occur, particles are lost when
they change their pitch angle in a collision and are scattered into the
loss cone. Generally, electrons are lost more easily because they have a
higher collision frequency.
The magnetic mirror was first proposed by Enrico Fermi as a
mechanism for the acceleration of cosmic rays.
