Experimental profile evolution of a high-density field-reversed configuration

Journal Article · Fri Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2402130· OSTI ID:20860439

Ruden, E L; Zhang, Shouyin; Intrator, T P; Wurden, G A ^[1]

---

1. Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 87117-5776 (United States)

A field-reversed configuration (FRC) gains angular momentum over time, eventually resulting in an n=2 rotational instability (invariant under rotation by {pi}) terminating confinement. To study this, a laser interferometer probes the time history of line integrated plasma density along eight chords of the high-density ({approx}10{sup 17} cm{sup -3}) field-reversed configuration experiment with a liner. Abel and tomographic inversions provide density profiles during the FRC's azimuthally symmetric phase, and over a period when the rotational mode has saturated and rotates with a roughly fixed profile, respectively. During the latter part of the symmetric phase, the FRC approximates a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium, allowing the axial magnetic-field profile to be calculated from pressure balance. Basic FRC properties such as temperature and poloidal flux are then inferred. The subsequent two-dimensional n=2 density profiles provide angular momentum information needed to set bounds on prior values of the stability relevant parameter {alpha} (rotational to ion diamagnetic drift frequency ratio), in addition to a view of plasma kinematics useful for benchmarking plasma models of higher order than MHD.

• OSTI ID: 20860439
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 13, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2402130; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
FIELD-REVERSED THETA PINCH DEVICES
GAIN
INTERFEROMETERS
ION TEMPERATURE
IONS
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA DIAMAGNETISM
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA PRESSURE
RADIATION TRANSPORT
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH
REVERSED-FIELD PINCH DEVICES
ROTATION