Compression of compact toroids in conical-coaxial geometry

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Fusion Technology

OSTI ID:121551

Degnan, J H; Baca, G P; Bell, D E ^[1]

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1. Phillips Lab., Kirtland Air Force Base, NM (United States); and others

Experiments to form, compress, and accelerate compact toroids are described. A 1-m-diam, two-stage, puffed gas, magnetic field embedded coaxial plasma gun is used. Emphasis is on conical compression. Discharges were in the several mega-ampere, few microsecond rise time range. Magnetic probe data suggest that l/(r{center_dot}{delta}r) compression of the toroid field is achieved, consistent with theoretical prediction. The magnetic field pulse and electron density pulse due to the compact toroid correlate in space and time. The compact toroid species is the injected gas species and precedes electrode plasma by several microseconds. The poloidal magnetic field precedes the azimuthal magnetic field. The time of arrival of the axial magnetic field compared with the axial position is consistent with the mean current axial position trajectory obtained from inductance growth. 8 refs., 6 figs.

• OSTI ID: 121551
• Journal Information: Fusion Technology, Journal Name: Fusion Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 27; ISSN FUSTE8; ISSN 0748-1896
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
COMPACT TORUS
COMPRESSION
DESIGN
ELECTRON DENSITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PLASMA GUNS