| 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) |
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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) |
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| energy replacement time | <radiobiology> Time required for a plasma to lose (via radiation or other loss mechanisms) an amount of energy equal to its average kinetic energy. (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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| activation energy | <chemistry> The amount of energy (expressed in joules) that is needed to convert all the molecules in one mole of a reacting substance from a ground state to the transition state. (06 May 1997) |
| binding energy | <chemistry, radiobiology> The binding energy of a nucleus is the minimum energy required to dissociate it into its component neutrons and protons. Neutron or proton binding energies are those required to remove a neutron or proton, respectively, from a nucleus. Electron binding energy is that required to remove an electron from an atom or a molecule. (16 Dec 1997) |
| bioelectric energy sources | Implantable devices which convert biological energy (chemical energy of the metabolism of continuously regenerating body fluids or mechanical energy of periodic movements) to electrical energy. The sources include biogalvanic cells, biofuel cells, and ionic concentration cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| biomass energy | See Bioenergy. (05 Dec 1998) |
| bond dissociation energy | This is the energy needed to break the bonds between two linked atoms. (09 Oct 1997) |
| bond energy | The energy needed to break a molecular bond. (09 Oct 1997) |
| radiant energy | Energy contained in light rays or any other form of radiation. (05 Mar 2000) |