Like a gas, in a plasma the constituents are not physically constrained in position by each other, and will expand to fill the available space. However, the free ions and electrons may be controlled using electric and magnetic fields. Barring [[cold fusion]] or electrostatic confinement, sustained magnetic confinement of hot plasmas must be achieved in order to harness [[nuclear fusion]] as a power source. | Like a gas, in a plasma the constituents are not physically constrained in position by each other, and will expand to fill the available space. However, the free ions and electrons may be controlled using electric and magnetic fields. Barring [[cold fusion]] or electrostatic confinement, sustained magnetic confinement of hot plasmas must be achieved in order to harness [[nuclear fusion]] as a power source. |