In a straight magnetised plasma column the field points along
PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Plasma Physics · The plasma state and single-particle motion · The plasma state and single-particle motion
Plasma Physics, Ch One particle in given fields: gyration and the guiding-centre drifts
Problem
In a straight magnetised plasma column the field points along z, and its strength rises from B=1.0T to 2.0T over a distance of 0.50m in the x direction, across the field. A proton at the point where B=1.0T has perpendicular energy W⊥=5.0keV. Treat the gradient as uniform over the proton's orbit.
((a)) Find the magnitude of the grad-B drift of the proton at this point.
((b)) State the direction of this drift relative to the field and its gradient, and the direction in which an electron with the same W⊥ drifts.