Simulation of drift-cyclotron-loss-cone modes in tandem mirrors with sloshing ions

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864671· OSTI ID:5117292

Cohen, B I; Maron, N; Nevins, W M

Particle simulations of drift-cyclotron-loss-cone modes in a tandem-mirror end cell confirm that sloshing-ion distributions and the concomitant trapping of low-energy ions by a depression in the ambipolar potential lead to improved microstablity. The simulations study the influences of neutral-beam-injection angle, the magnetic-mirror ratio, the size of the depression in the ambipolar potential, and warm streaming plasma on both plasma confinement and drift-cone instability. A simple nonlinear theory of velocity-space transport predicts wave amplitudes and end-loss rates at steady state that are reasonably consistent with the simulation results. This study supports both the basic strategy for sloshing-ion operation of tandem mirrors and corroborates the first measurements of ion-cyclotron modes in the TMX-Upgrade experiment at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, California 94550
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5117292
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 27:3; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
BEAM INJECTION
CHARGED PARTICLES
CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
DRIFT INSTABILITY
END EFFECTS
ENERGY LOSSES
FUNCTIONS
INSTABILITY
IONS
LOSS CONE INSTABILITY
LOSSES
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
NEUTRAL ATOM BEAM INJECTION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA SIMULATION
POTENTIALS
SIMULATION
SLABS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TANDEM MIRRORS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TMX DEVICES
TRAPPING