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Magnetic well: Difference between revisions
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The magnetic well, along with the [[Magnetic shear|magnetic shear]], is a fundamental concept for the stability of magnetically confined plasmas. | The magnetic well, along with the [[Magnetic shear|magnetic shear]], is a fundamental concept for the stability of magnetically confined plasmas. | ||
A toroidally confined plasma with given pressure has a tendency to expand. | A toroidally confined plasma with given pressure has a tendency to expand. | ||
However, an ideal, collisionless plasma is bound to the magnetic field lines, and the flux in a magnetic flux tube is conserved. | However, an ideal, collisionless plasma is bound to the magnetic field lines, and the flux in a magnetic [[Flux tube|flux tube]] is conserved. | ||
The plasma will therefore prefer to move to a location where the volume to flux ratio (the ''specific volume'') is maximum. | The plasma will therefore prefer to move to a location where the volume to flux ratio (the ''specific volume'') is maximum. | ||