| confinement | Lying-in; giving birth to a child. Origin: L. Confine (ntr.), a boundary, confine, fr. Con-+ finis, boundary (05 Mar 2000) |
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| confinement time | <radiobiology> There are several types. The general definition is tau = [total]/[loss per unit time], hence Tau_E = [total energy]/[energy loss per unit time]. Tau_[E, N,.] is the amount of time the plasma is contained (for example, by magnetic fields) before its [energy (E), particles (N or P)] leak / dissipate away. The different types are, in general, similar but not equal. (N.B., Tau_E is NOT electron confinement time!) (09 Oct 1997) |
| magnetic confinement | <physics> Use of magnetic fields to confine a plasma. (Confinement involves restricting the volume of the plasma and/or restricting particle or energy transport from the centre of the plasma to the edge.) (09 Oct 1997) |
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| magnetic confinement fusion | <physics> Method of fusion which uses magnetic fields / magnetic bottles to confine a hot plasma until fusion occurs. (09 Oct 1997) |
| classical confinement | <radiobiology> Plasma confinement in which particle and energy transport occurs via classical diffusion, best possible case for magnetically confined plasmas. See: classical diffusion. (09 Oct 1997) |
| inertial confinement fusion | <radiobiology> Approach to fusion where the plasma is imploded so quickly that the inertia of the converging particles is so high that many fuse before they disperse. This is the method used in a hydrogen bomb, ICF schemes for power production usually use small pellets of fuel in an attempt to make miniature h-bomb type explosions. Methods for imploding the pellet include bombardment from all sides with high-powered laser and particle beams, and of course implosion in a fission bomb. Parts of ICF fusion research remain classified due to their military implications and applications, though much ICF research was recently declassified. (09 Oct 1997) |
| electrostatic confinement | <radiobiology> An approach to fusion based on confining charged particles by means of electric fields, rather than the magnetic fields used in magnetic confinement. (09 Oct 1997) |
| energy confinement time | <radiobiology> Characteristic time in which 1/e (or sometimes 1/2) of a system's energy is lost to its surroundings. In a plasma device, the energy loss time (or the energy confinement time) is one of three critical parameters determining whether enough fusion will occur to sustain a reaction. See: Lawson criterion. (09 Oct 1997) |