Drift Motion of Field-Reversed-Configuration Plasma across a Curved Magnetic Field

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.1916· OSTI ID:510624

Himura, H; Wada, H; Okada, S; Sugimoto, S; Goto, S ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics Laboratory, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565 (Japan)

We report the first observation of the behavior of a field-reversed-configuration (FRC) plasma translated into a curved magnetic field {bold B}{sub cur}. The FRC shows a unique behavior in {bold B}{sub cur}. The plasma splits into two parts: one is a bulk plasma confined in a field-reversed magnetic geometry, deflecting strongly across {bold B}{sub cur} despite {beta}{sub E} (the ratio of directed to transverse magnetic-field energy density) {gt}1; the other is probably a peripheral plasma outside the separatrix, propagating rigidly along {bold B}{sub cur}. This motion of the FRC may be due to {bold E}{times}{bold B} drifting, rather than displacement of the vacuum field by diamagnetic currents. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 510624
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 78; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM INJECTION
BEAM TRANSPORT
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY DENSITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA PRESSURE
POLARIZATION
REVERSED-FIELD PINCH DEVICES
TRANSVERSE ENERGY
WAVE PROPAGATION