Spheromak Formation by Steady Inductive Helicity Injection

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.97.115003· OSTI ID:20860832

Jarboe, T R; Hamp, W T; Marklin, G J; Nelson, B A; O'Neill, R G; Redd, A J; Sieck, P E; Smith, R J; Wrobel, J S ^[1]

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1. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-2250 (United States)

A spheromak is formed for the first time using a new steady state inductive helicity injection method. Using two inductive injectors with odd symmetry and oscillating at 5.8 kHz, a steady state spheromak with even symmetry is formed and sustained through nonlinear relaxation. A spheromak with about 13 kA of toroidal current is formed and sustained using about 3 MW of power. This is a much lower power threshold for spheromak production than required for electrode-based helicity injection. Internal magnetic probe data, including oscillations driven by the injectors, agree with the plasma being in the Taylor state. The agreement is remarkable considering the only fitting parameter is the amplitude of the spheromak component of the state.

• OSTI ID: 20860832
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 97; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM INJECTION
ELECTRODES
HELICITY
KHZ RANGE 01-100
MAGNETIC PROBES
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA
RELAXATION
SPHEROMAK DEVICES
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
SYMMETRY