Magnetic Mirror Calculator
Calculate magnetic mirror confinement and particle trapping
About Magnetic Mirrors
Magnetic mirrors confine charged particles using converging magnetic field lines. Particles with sufficient perpendicular velocity are reflected, while those in the "loss cone" escape along field lines.
Key Formulas:
- sin²αL = Bmin/Bmax = 1/R (loss cone)
- μ = mv⊥²/(2B) = const (adiabatic invariant)
- sin²α ∝ B (pitch angle evolution)
Examples:
- Earth's Van Allen belts (R ~ 2-5)
- Mirror fusion machines
- Solar magnetic loops
💡
Help us improve!
How would you rate the Magnetic Mirror Calculator?
Editorial Note
MyCalcBuddy Editorial Team
This page is maintained as an educational calculator reference.
📚
Formula Source: University Physics
by Young & Freedman
🔄Last reviewed: May 2026
✓Formula checks are based on standard references and internal QA review.