Simulation of drift-cyclotron-loss-cone modes in tandem mirrors with sloshing ions

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864671· OSTI ID:5117292

Cohen, B I; Maron, N; Nevins, W M

Particle simulations of drift-cyclotron-loss-cone modes in a tandem-mirror end cell confirm that sloshing-ion distributions and the concomitant trapping of low-energy ions by a depression in the ambipolar potential lead to improved microstablity. The simulations study the influences of neutral-beam-injection angle, the magnetic-mirror ratio, the size of the depression in the ambipolar potential, and warm streaming plasma on both plasma confinement and drift-cone instability. A simple nonlinear theory of velocity-space transport predicts wave amplitudes and end-loss rates at steady state that are reasonably consistent with the simulation results. This study supports both the basic strategy for sloshing-ion operation of tandem mirrors and corroborates the first measurements of ion-cyclotron modes in the TMX-Upgrade experiment at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, California 94550
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5117292
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Vol. 27:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA
CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY
DRIFT INSTABILITY
LOSS CONE INSTABILITY
TMX DEVICES
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
END EFFECTS
ENERGY LOSSES
IONS
NEUTRAL ATOM BEAM INJECTION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA SIMULATION
POTENTIALS
SLABS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TRAPPING
BEAM INJECTION
CHARGED PARTICLES
FUNCTIONS
INSTABILITY
LOSSES
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
SIMULATION
TANDEM MIRRORS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700107* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities