home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!faqserv
- From: Robert F. Heeter <rfheeter@princeton.edu>
- Newsgroups: sci.physics.fusion,sci.answers,news.answers
- Subject: Conventional Fusion FAQ Glossary Part 17/26 (Q)
- Supersedes: <fusion-faq/glossary/q_934543711@rtfm.mit.edu>
- Followup-To: sci.physics.fusion
- Date: 11 Nov 1999 12:26:07 GMT
- Organization: Princeton University
- Lines: 77
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
- Distribution: world
- Expires: 23 Feb 2000 12:24:17 GMT
- Message-ID: <fusion-faq/glossary/q_942323057@rtfm.mit.edu>
- References: <fusion-faq/glossary/intro_942323057@rtfm.mit.edu>
- Reply-To: rfheeter@pppl.gov
- NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu
- Summary: Fusion energy represents a promising alternative to
- fossil fuels and nuclear fission for world energy
- production. This Glossary is a compendium of Frequently Used
- Terms in Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy Research. Refer
- to the FAQ on Conventional Fusion for more detailed info
- about topics in fusion research. This Glossary does NOT
- discuss unconventional forms of fusion (like Cold Fusion).
- X-Last-Updated: 1995/02/22
- Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu sci.physics.fusion:44265 sci.answers:10862 news.answers:170848
-
- Archive-name: fusion-faq/glossary/q
- Last-modified: 21-Feb-1995
- Posting-frequency: More-or-less-quarterly
- Disclaimer: While this section is still evolving, it should
- be useful to many people, and I encourage you to distribute
- it to anyone who might be interested (and willing to help!!!).
-
- ===============================================================
- Glossary Part 17: Terms beginning with "Q"
-
- FREQUENTLY USED TERMS IN CONVENTIONAL FUSION RESEARCH
- AND PLASMA PHYSICS
-
- Edited by Robert F. Heeter, rfheeter@pppl.gov
-
- Guide to Categories:
-
- * = plasma/fusion/energy vocabulary
- & = basic physics vocabulary
- > = device type or machine name
- # = name of a constant or variable
- ! = scientists
- @ = acronym
- % = labs & political organizations
- $ = unit of measurement
-
- The list of Acknowledgements is in Part 0 (intro).
- ==================================================================
-
- QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
-
- # q - Variable used to indicate electric charge; also used for
- the "safety factor" (see charge, safety factor). Usually clear
- from context which is meant.
-
- # Q: See Q-factor
-
- * Q-enhancement: Refers to methods for improving the power
- balance in mirror-based magnetic confinement fusion reactors.
-
- * Q-factor: Ratio of power produced by fusion to power
- put into the reactor to heat the plasma and drive the
- magnetic fields. Q = 1 is the definition of scientific
- breakeven, where power out = power in. Economical fusion
- will require Q significantly greater than 1. Fortunately
- Q increases dramatically as the plasma parameters
- approach the Lawson criterion for ignition. Power to drive
- the magnetic fields is frequently ignored in discussions of
- Q, with the justification that a steady-state, continuous-output
- fusion reactor will have superconducting magnet coils.
-
- * Q-machine: Plasma device studied in the 1960s; noted for
- its natural quiescence, which made it attractive for plasma
- wave phyics experimentation.
-
- * Q-switch: Optical switch used to rapidly change the Q of
- an optical resonator (see entry for oscillator); utilized
- in the optical resonator of a laser to prevent lasing action
- until a high level of gain and energy storage are achieved
- in the laser medium. When the switch is triggered and
- rapidly increases the Q of the cavity, a stronger laser
- pulse is generated.
-
- $ Quad: Unit of energy equal to a Quadrillion BTUs (10^15)
- or roughly one exajoule (see entry for joule, exajoule, BTU).
-
- * Quasi-linear Theory: A weakly nonlinear theory of plasma
- oscillations which uses perturbation theory and the random
- phase approximation to find the time-evolution of the
- plasma state.
-
- * Quasi-neutral plasma: an ionized gas in which positive
- and negative charges are present in approximately
- equal numbers.
-
-
-
-