Plasma Physics
3 terms
Thermal vs Non-Thermal Plasmas
Plasma Physics
Kelvin or eV
The classification of plasmas based on thermodynamic equilibrium between electron temperature T_e and heavy ion/gas temperature T_i.
Thermal: T_e ≈ T_i ≈ T_gas; Non-Thermal: T_e ≫ T_i ≈ T_gas
Tokamak
Plasma Physics
Dimensionless Safety Factor q
A toroidal magnetic confinement fusion device that utilizes external magnetic coils and an internal driven plasma current to create a helical magnetic field.
q = (r B_toroidal) / (R B_poloidal)
Two-Stream Instability
Plasma Physics
s⁻¹ (Growth Rate Im(ω))
A fundamental electrodynamic plasma instability that occurs when two counter-streaming particle beams or an electron beam injected into a stationary plasma excite growing electrostatic waves.
1 = (ω_pe1² / (ω - k v₁)²) + (ω_pe2² / (ω - k v₂)²)