| 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) |
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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) |
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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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| atrial fusion beat | A beat that occurs when the atria are activated in part by the sinus impulse and in part by an ectopic or retrograde impulse from A-V junction or ventricle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gene fusion | Fusion of structural genes to analyze protein behaviour or fusion of regulatory sequences with structural genes to determine mechanisms of regulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ventricular fusion beat | A fusion beat that occurs when the ventricles are activated partly by the descending sinus or A-V junctional impulse and partly by an ectopic ventricular impulse. (05 Mar 2000) |
| recombinant fusion proteins | Proteins that are the result of genetic engineering. A regulatory part or promoter of one or more genes is combined with a structural gene. The fusion protein is formed after transcription and translation of the fused gene. This type of fusion protein is used in the study of gene regulation or structure-activity relationships. They might also be used clinically as targeted toxins (immunotoxins). (12 Dec 1998) |
| vertebral fusion | A procedure that involves fusing together two or more vertebrae in the spine using either bone grafts or metal rods (Harrington rods). This procedure may be used to correct kyphosis or scoliosis. It is also used in those who require spine stabilisation due to vertebral damage from ruptures discs, fractures, osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis or tumour. (27 Sep 1997) |
| viral fusion proteins | Proteins, usually glycoproteins, found in the viral envelopes of a variety of viruses. They promote cell membrane fusion and thereby may function in the uptake of the virus by cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cell fusion | <biology, embryology> Fusion of two previously separate cells occurs naturally in fertilization and in the formation of vertebrate skeletal muscle, but can be induced artificially by the use of Sendai virus or fusogens such as polyethylene glycol. Fusion may be restricted to cytoplasm or nuclei may fuse as well. A cell formed by the fusion of dissimilar cells is often referred to as a heterokaryon. (26 Mar 1998) |
| centric fusion | <molecular biology> A special type of nonreciprocal translocation in chromosomes whereby the long arms of two nonhomologous acrocentric chromosomes are attached to a single centromere. The short arms become attached to form a reciprocal structure that however often disappears some divisions after its formation. (17 Dec 1997) |