Date: 28.09.

2020

Lecture 5
Plasma Physics (Phys 403)
Single Particle Motion
Nonuniform B Field: For uniform fields we obtain exact expressions
for the guiding center drifts. As soon as we introduce inhomogeneity,
the problem becomes too complicated to solve exactly. To get an
approximate answer, it should be expanded in the small ratio rL/L,
where L is the scale length of the inhomogeneity. This type of theory is
called orbit-theory.

⊥B : Grad-B drift:
Let us consider the motion of particle in a plasma in an inhomogeneous
magnetic field B. Let this inhomogeneity occur due to the variation of
density of magnetic field lines. Then the Larmor radius rL = (mv⊥/qB) of
the particles orbit would be larger at low density region of the field
lines than at the higher density region. This difference in rL in low
and high density region causes a drift of the particle. The gradient of
B causes this drift. This is why the velocity is known as grad-B drift.
 It is denoted by vB and is given by
 
 1 B  B (1)
vB   v rL
2 B2

To find the guiding center drift velocity let us consider the Lorentz force
acting on the particle is
  
F  q(v  B) (2)

On averaging over a gyration Fx  0 , since the pa rticle spends as much

time moving up as down (y-direction).

We wish to calculate Fy , in an approximate fashion, by using

undisturbed orbit of the particle.

The undisturbed orbit for uniform B field is given by

vx  veic t

v y  iveic t (3)

And
x  x0  rL sin ct

y  y0   rL cosct (4)

Taking the real part of equation (3)

v x  v cosc t
We can expand B by a Taylor expansion of B field about the point x0 =0
and y0=0:
   
B  B0  (r .) B     

And
Bz
Bz  B0  y 
y

This expansion of course required rL/L << 1, where L is the scale length
Bz
of .
y

Bz
Fy  qvx Bz  qv cosctBz  qv cosct[ B0  (rL cosct ) ]
y
Now, (5)
B
 qv cosctB0  qv cos ct z
2

y

Taking the average of cosωct = 0 and cos2ωct =1/2.

1 B
Fy   qv rL (6)
2 y

The force only cause the guiding center drift. So the Lorentz force

F  iˆFx  ˆjFy  kˆFz  ˆjFy

The guiding center drift is then

 
 1 F  B 1 ˆjFy  kˆB 1 Fy B 1 B 1 ˆ 1 B ˆ
vgc      qv rL i  v rL i (7)
q B 2
q B 2
q B 2
2 y qB 2B y

Since the y-axis is arbitrary. This can be generalized to

 
1  1 B  B
FB   qv rLB   v rL (8)
2 2 B2

This is called grad-B drift.

Curved B : Curvature drift :
Let us consider an inhomogeneous magnetic field B whose magnitude is
constant but the lines of force is curved with the fixed radius of
curvature Rc. Such a field does not obey Maxwell’s equations in a
vacuum, so in practice the grad-B drift will always be added to the
effect derived here (curvature drift).

A guiding center drift arises from the centrifugal force felt by the
particles as they move along the field lines in their thermal motion.

If vll
2
denotes the average square of the component of random velocity
along B, the average centrifugal force is

 mvll2 mvll2 Rc mvll2 
Fcf  rˆ   2 Rc (1)
Rc Rc Rc Rc

The force gives rise to the drift velocity of

   
 1 Fcf  B mvll2 Rc  B
vR   (2)
q B2 qB 2 Rc2

This drift VR is called the curvature drift.

Let us now find the guiding center drift when both grad B and curvature
of B exist (i.e., the B can vary in space and direction). Now we find the
grad B drift with decrease of |B| with radius (i.e., Bɵ ). In the
cylindrical coordinates, has only a z-component, since B has only
a ɵ component and only an r component. We have then

rˆ ˆ zˆ
  1    1  1 
(  B) z  (rB ) since, (  B)  0 0 (rB )
r r r r r r
0 rB 0
 
But in a vacuum (  B)  0

1 
 (rB )  0
r r

1 B
Or, [r  B ]  0
r r

B 1
Or,   B
r r

1 B 1
Or, 
B r r
 
B Rc
  2 (3)
B Rc

Now the grad B drift is given by

     
 1 B  B 1 B BRc 1 mv Rc  B 2 m Rc  B
vB   rLv   v rL 2  ( )   v ( )  v
2 B2 2 B  Rc2 2 q B BRc2 q B 2 Rc2
  (4)
m 2 Rc  B
  v 2 2
q Rc B

Adding this to vR, we have the total drift in a curved vacuum field:
      
  mvll2 Rc  B 1 mv2 Rc  B m Rc  B 2 1 2
vR  vB   ` (vll  v )
qB 2 Rc2 2 qB 2 Rc2 q B 2 Rc2 2

It is unfortunate that these drifts add. This means that if one bends
magnetic field into a torous (Tokamak) for the purpose of confining a
thermonuclear plasma, the particles will drift out of the torus no matter
how one juggles the temperatures and magnetic fields.

For a Maxwellian distribution, we have

k BT
vll2 
m

1 2 kBT
v 
2 m
 
  m Rc  B 2k BT m Rc Byˆ 2k BT m vth2 r
So, vR  vB      ˆ
y v 2
  yˆ   L vth yˆ
c Rc
2 2 2 2 th
q B Rc m q B Rc m qBRc Rc

rL vth
Thus, v R  B   vth yˆ since c 
Rc rL

Thus, the average drift depends on the charge (Via Rc) of the species
but not on its mass. Hence, the plasma will be lost from the Tokamak
causing disruption.