Mirror ratio scaling of axial confinement of a mirror-trapped collisional plasma

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.865859· OSTI ID:5139657

Lam, K L; Leikind, B J; Wong, A Y; Dimonte, G; Kuthi, A; Olson, L; Zwi, H

The axial confinement time of a single cell mirror is found to be proportional to the mirror ratio over the range of 12-74 when the mean free path for Coulomb collisions is less than one-third of the length of the device. The reduction in total end-loss current is shown to correspond to the reduction of the cross-sectional area of the plasma at the mirror throat as the mirror ratio is increased. The end-loss current density is independent of the mirror ratio and is proportional to the product of the plasma density and the acoustic speed.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024
• OSTI ID: 5139657
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 29:10; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
CONFINEMENT
COULOMB FIELD
ELECTRIC FIELDS
END EFFECTS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MEAN FREE PATH
MIRROR RATIO
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES