Reply To: Newbie pB11 Fuel Questions

[jamesr]

vansig wrote:

When the magnetic field collapses the rate of change in B-field creates the huge E-field which accelerates the ions in one direction at ~2.6±0.2MeV and the electrons in the other.

I thought the ions in the exit beam would average around 600 keV?

If their temperature (ie random spread in velocities) were 600keV then the beam would be ~2.6±0.6MeV. The energy in the beam comes from the huge, tightly wound, B-field transferring its energy to an E-field, which in turn transfers to the ions, accelerating them into the beam. The ions thermal motion is just superimposed over the top.

Also note, I have assumed all the fusion product He ions have completely thermalised in the plasmoid before the beam is formed – transferring the fusion energy partly to maintain the plasma temperature against X-ray losses, but also maintaining the B-field, until it’s eventual collapse.