Turbulence and transport in mirror geometries in the Large Plasma Device

Travis, Phil; Carter, Troy

doi:10.1017/S0022377825000029

Turbulence and transport in mirror geometries in the Large Plasma Device

Journal Article · Tue Feb 18 23:00:00 EST 2025 · Journal of Plasma Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022377825000029· OSTI ID:2520206

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Thanks to advances in plasma science and enabling technology, mirror machines are being reconsidered for fusion power plants and as possible fusion volumetric neutron sources. However, cross-field transport and turbulence in mirrors remains relatively understudied compared with toroidal devices. Turbulence and transport in mirror configurations were studied utilizing the flexible magnetic geometry of the Large Plasma Device (LAPD). Multiple mirror ratios from $M=1$$ to $$M=2.68$$ and three mirror-cell lengths from $$L=3.51$$ to $$L=10.86$$ m were examined. Langmuir and magnetic probes were used to measure profiles of density, temperature, potential and magnetic field. The electric field-fluctuation-driven $${\tilde {\boldsymbol{E}}} \times {\boldsymbol{B}}$$ particle flux, where $$\boldsymbol{B}$ is the background field, was calculated from these quantities. Two probe correlation techniques were used to infer wavenumbers and two-dimensional structure. Cross-field particle flux and density fluctuation power decreased with increased mirror ratio. Core density and temperatures remain similar with mirror ratio, but radial line-integrated density increased. The physical expansion of the plasma in the mirror cell by using a higher field in the source region may have led to reduced density fluctuation power through the increased gradient scale length. This increased scale length reduced the growth rate and saturation level of rotational interchange and drift-like instabilities. Despite the introduction of magnetic curvature, no evidence of mirror-driven instabilities – interchange, velocity space or otherwise – were observed. For curvature-induced interchange, many possible stabilization mechanisms were present, suppressing the visibility of the instability.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

Grant/Contract Number:: FC02-07ER54918

OSTI ID:: 2520206

Journal Information:: Journal of Plasma Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Plasma Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 91; ISSN 0022-3778

Publisher:: Cambridge University Press (CUP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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