Beta (plasma Physics)

Beta (plasma Physics)

The beta of a plasma, symbolized by β, is the ratio of the plasma pressure (p = n k_B T) to the magnetic pressure (p_mag = B²/2μ₀). The term is commonly used in studies of the Sun and Earth's magnetic field, and in the field of fusion power designs.

In the fusion power field, plasma is often confined using large superconducting magnets that are very expensive. Since the temperature of the fuel scales with pressure, reactors attempt to reach the highest pressures possible. The costs of large magnets roughly scales like β½. Therefore beta can be thought of as a ratio of money in to money out for a reactor, and beta can be thought of (very approximately) as an economic indicator of reactor efficiency. To make an economically useful reactor, betas better than 5% are needed.

The same term is also used when discussing the interactions of the solar wind with various magnetic fields. For example, the beta in the corona of the Sun is about 1%