plasma containment

Plasma containment refers to the methods used to confine plasma, a state of matter consisting of charged particles, similar to gas but where some electrons are separated from their atoms. In fusion research, effective containment is crucial to sustain nuclear fusion reactions, which could provide a powerful energy source. Common techniques include magnetic confinement, where strong magnetic fields trap the plasma, and inertial confinement, where lasers compress small pellet targets of fuel. Both methods aim to maintain the extreme temperatures and pressures necessary for fusion while preventing the plasma from coming into contact with the reactor walls.