Mirror Ratio

The field-strength ratio between a mirror's throat and its centre; it sets how well particles are trapped.

In a magnetic mirror, the field is stronger at the ends ('throats') than in the middle. The mirror ratio — throat field over central field — determines the range of particle velocities that are reflected and confined.

The Kronos burner uses high-field plug coils (throat field 17 T, plug/ion-end 26.49 T) to raise the effective mirror ratio and, with an ambipolar potential, plug the ends.

The mirror ratio — throat field over central field — determines the fraction of particle velocities that are magnetically reflected rather than lost through the ends. Higher ratios trap more, but simple mirrors still leak through the loss cone. The Kronos burner combines high-field plugs (17 T throat, 26.49 T plug) with an electrostatic potential to close that leak.