magnetic bottle

A magnetic bottle is a magnetic field used to confine plasma for experiments in nuclear fusion. In magnetic confinement, charged particles like electrons and ions are forced to spiral along magnetic field lines, effectively trapping them. This confinement is crucial for achieving the high temperatures and densities needed for fusion reactions.12

Two main methods are used:
* Magnetic mirroring: This involves creating regions of stronger magnetic fields at the ends of a system. Approaching charged particles are repelled and sent back, preventing them from escaping.3
* Toroidal confinement: Systems like tokamaks use a doughnut-shaped magnetic field to keep the plasma contained without end losses.2

While the pinch effect can also compress and confine plasma, it is inherently unstable and requires additional magnetic field configurations to create a stable magnetic bottle.4