Pure electron plasmas confined for 90 ms in a stellarator without electron sources or internal objects
We report on the creation and up to 90 ms sustainment of pure electron plasmas confined in a stellarator without internal objects. Injection of positrons into such plasmas is expected to lead to the creation of the first electron-positron plasma experiments. These newly created plasmas will also allow a study of pure electron plasmas without the perturbing presence of internal objects. The plasmas were created by thermionic emission of electrons from a heated, biased filament that was retracted in 20 ms. The confinement of these transient plasmas is different from that of steady state plasmas with internal objects and emissive filaments, and is generally shorter, limited by ion buildup. The decay time is increased by lowering the neutral pressure, lowering the electron plasma temperature, or operating with neutrals with high ionization energies (helium). These findings are all consistent with ion accumulation being the cause for the shorter than expected confinement times. The magnetic field strength also moderately increases the decay times. The deleterious effect of ions is not expected to imply a similar deleterious effect when introducing positrons, but it implies that ion accumulation must be avoided also in an electron-positron experiment.
- OSTI ID:
- 22072318
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 19, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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