Plasma Physics Lab

Plasma Physics Simulator — Fusion & Confinement

This plasma physics simulator visualizes ions and electrons confined in a toroidal magnetic field, with color-coded particles (blue for ions, red for electrons) tracing paths around elliptical field-line rings. A Debye shielding sphere is drawn around the central region. On-canvas readouts show plasma density, magnetic field, temperature in keV, Debye length, plasma beta, and whether the Lawson ignition criterion is met. Toggle the MHD instability button to introduce a kink perturbation and see confinement degrade.

What you can do in this simulation

• Adjust plasma density (5–100), magnetic field (0.1–10 T), and temperature (1–300 keV)
• Watch ions and electrons orbit toroidal field lines in real time
• Read Debye length, plasma beta, and Lawson criterion status on canvas
• Toggle MHD instability to introduce kink perturbation
• Pause, resume, and reset the plasma simulation

Concepts covered

plasma confinement · Debye shielding · Lawson criterion · plasma beta · MHD instability · magnetic fusion

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