Reply To: Energy Policy in Chile – Economist Article

[AaronB]

The equilibrium question is very important. To understand how this works, you have to understand that charged particles like to follow magnetic lines. If there is no external magnetic field to guide the ions and electrons, they converge in a chaotic mess when the filaments combine, losing energy in the process. The axial field coil creates a curved path that the electrons and ions can follow in a smooth way, creating a nice whirlpool effect. If too little external magnetic field is applied, the filaments will crash into each other (as you describe) and lose energy. If too much external magnetic field is applied, the whirlpool created will be so strong that the filaments will just circle around without combining. The sweet spot is the amount of magnetic field that will allow a gentle transition without the chaos. I’ve done the string-twisting experiment also, and if you’ve done it, you know that if you pull the string tighter, the twists come undone under higher tension. That’s what the magnetic field does. It provides that tension as well as a guide for the charged particles.

The next monthly report isn’t too far away, so you’ll get an update on our latest progress soon enough.