| 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) |
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| 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) |
| confinement | Lying-in; giving birth to a child. Origin: L. Confine (ntr.), a boundary, confine, fr. Con-+ finis, boundary (05 Mar 2000) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| electrostatic | Pertaining to electrostatics. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| electrostatic analyser | <radiobiology> A device which filters an electron beam (band-pass), permitting only electrons within a narrow energy (velocity) range to pass. (09 Oct 1997) |
| electrostatic bond | Bond between atoms or groups carrying opposite charges (or, in some cases, partial charges). Synonym: heteropolar bond, salt bridge. (05 Mar 2000) |
| electrostatic field | <radiobiology> The region surrounding an electric charge in which another charge experiences a force. (16 Dec 1997) |
| electrostatic force | <radiobiology> Like charges in close proximity produce forces of repulsion between them. Consequently if two surfaces bear appreciable and approximately equal densities of charged groups on their surfaces appreciable forces of repulsion may occur between them. The range of these forces is determined in the main by the ionic strength of the intervening medium, forces being of minimal range at high ionic strength. The forces are effective over approximately twice the double layer thickness. See: DLVO theory. (18 Nov 1997) |
| electrostatic lens | <physics> A lens employing a permanent magnet to produce a potential field capable of deflecting electron rays to form an image of an object. (cf. Electromagnetic lens). (05 Aug 1998) |
| electrostatic unit | The unit in an absolute system (CGS) of unit's utilizing static electricity; e.g., statampere, statcoulomb, statfarad, stathenry, statvolt. (05 Mar 2000) |
| electrostatic wave | <radiobiology> Longitudinal oscillations appearing in a plasma due to a perturbation of electric neutrality. For a cold unmagnetised plasma, or at large wavelengths, the frequency of these waves is by definition the plasma frequency. (09 Oct 1997) |