Abstract
The bounce averaged Fokker–Planck equation is solved for alpha particles slowing down in a background plasma of elecrons and ions in the central cell of a tandem mirror. The problem is formulated for a general, monotonic magnetic field, and then solved numerically for the square-well case. This gives a distribution function in energy and lambda (magnetic moment/energy). The resulting loss of alpha particles by scattering into the magnetic loss cone and the distribution of alpha-particle energy to ions and electrons are given. For typical tandem mirror reactor parameters (Te ∼30 keV, φ∼100 keV, R∼4) about half of the alpha particles are born in or scatter into the loss cones, but less than 25% of the total alpha particles’ energy is lost through these mechanisms.
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