Tokamak

Definition

A tokamak is a device used to confine a plasma in the shape of a torus for the purpose of generating energy through nuclear fusion. It is one of the most widely studied magnetic confinement devices and is considered a leading candidate for the realization of fusion power.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The tokamak design uses a strong toroidal magnetic field and a poloidal magnetic field to confine the plasma in a torus-shaped chamber.
2. The toroidal magnetic field is generated by a series of circular coils around the torus, while the poloidal magnetic field is generated by a current flowing through the plasma itself.
3. Tokamaks are designed to achieve the high temperatures and pressures required for fusion reactions to occur, with the goal of producing more energy than is required to heat the plasma.
4. The plasma in a tokamak is typically heated by the injection of high-energy particles or the use of radio frequency waves, and its behavior is controlled by a complex system of magnetic fields and feedback systems.
5. Tokamaks are a key component in the development of fusion power, as they have demonstrated the ability to confine plasma for long periods and achieve the conditions necessary for fusion reactions to occur.

Review Questions

• Explain how the magnetic fields in a tokamak device are used to confine the plasma.
  • In a tokamak, the plasma is confined within a torus-shaped chamber using a combination of toroidal and poloidal magnetic fields. The toroidal magnetic field is generated by a series of circular coils around the torus, while the poloidal magnetic field is generated by a current flowing through the plasma itself. This combination of magnetic fields creates a helical magnetic field that traps the plasma within the chamber, allowing the high temperatures and pressures required for fusion reactions to be achieved.
• Describe the role of a tokamak in the development of fusion power.
  • Tokamaks are considered a leading candidate for the realization of fusion power due to their ability to confine plasma for long periods and achieve the conditions necessary for fusion reactions to occur. Tokamaks have been extensively studied and have demonstrated the feasibility of using magnetic fields to confine a plasma in a torus-shaped chamber. This has been a crucial step in the development of fusion power, as it has allowed researchers to explore the physics of plasma confinement and the challenges associated with generating and controlling the high temperatures and pressures required for fusion reactions.
• Analyze how the design and operation of a tokamak device relates to the concepts of magnetic force between parallel conductors and nuclear fusion.
  • The design and operation of a tokamak device are closely linked to the concepts of magnetic force between parallel conductors and nuclear fusion. The toroidal magnetic field in a tokamak is generated by a series of circular coils, which create a magnetic force that interacts with the current flowing through the plasma. This magnetic force helps to confine the plasma within the torus-shaped chamber, as described in the concept of magnetic force between parallel conductors. Additionally, the high temperatures and pressures achieved within the tokamak are necessary for the fusion reactions to occur, as outlined in the concept of nuclear fusion. The ability to effectively confine the plasma and create the conditions required for fusion is a critical aspect of the tokamak's role in the development of fusion power as a viable energy source.

Related terms

Plasma:

A plasma is a state of matter in which a gas has been ionized, resulting in a mixture of positively charged ions and free electrons.

Magnetic Confinement Fusion:

Magnetic confinement fusion is a method of producing fusion power by using magnetic fields to confine a plasma in the shape of a torus.

Fusion Reactor: A fusion reactor is a device that uses the process of nuclear fusion to generate energy, typically by confining a plasma in a magnetic field.