Large density variation predicted along the magnetic axis for cold electron plasmas in the Columbia Nonneutral Torus (CNT)
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027 (United States)
Cold pure electron plasmas confined in Penning-Malmberg traps with mirror fields are known to exhibit density variations along field lines, such that the density is roughly proportional to the magnetic field strength, n{approx}B. The Columbia Nonneutral Torus (CNT) is the first stellarator designed to study pure electron plasmas, and exhibits substantial mirroring, with B{sub max}{approx_equal}1.8B{sub min}. However, results of a three-dimensional equilibrium solver, presented in this Letter, predict a factor of 5.3 increase in density from the minimum-field cross section to the maximum-field cross section along the magnetic axis, for a 1.5 cm Debye length plasma (a{approx_equal}15 cm for CNT). In this Letter, it is shown that the density variation of electron plasmas in mirror traps can be significantly enhanced in a device that has a cross section that varies from cylinder-like to slab-like, such as the CNT. A simple analytic expression is derived that describes the axial density variation in such a device, and it is found to agree well with the computational predictions for CNT.
- OSTI ID:
- 20860416
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 13, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2405341; (c) 2006 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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