Experimental study on the velocity limits of magnetized rotating plasmas

Journal Article · Tue Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2904903· OSTI ID:21120252

Teodorescu, C; Clary, R; Ellis, R F; Hassam, A B; Lunsford, R; Uzun-Kaymak, I; Young, W C ^[1]

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1. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 (United States)

An experimental study on the physical limits of the rotation velocity of magnetized plasmas is presented. Experiments are performed in the Maryland Centrifugal Experiment (MCX) [R. F. Ellis et al., Phys. Plasmas 12, 055704 (2005)], a mirror magnetic field plasma rotating azimuthally. The externally applied parameters that control the plasma characteristics--applied voltage, external magnetic field, and fill pressure--are scanned across the entire available range of values. It is found that the plasma rotation velocity does not exceed the Alfven velocity, in agreement with the equilibrium requirements of magnetically confined plasmas. Measured rotation velocities are also lower than the critical ionization velocity in hydrogen, but a strict limit was not observable within MCX parametric capabilities.

• OSTI ID: 21120252
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 15; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CONTROL
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
EQUILIBRIUM
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
ROTATING PLASMA
VELOCITY