Coaxial slow source
Field reversed configurations (FRCs) are a class of compact toroid with not toroidal field. The field reversed theta pinch technique has been successfully used for formation of FRCs since their inception in 1958. In this method an initial bias field is produced. After ionization of the fill gas, the current in the coil is rapidly reversed producing the radial implosion of a current sheath. At the ends of the coil the reversed field lines rapidly tear and reconnect with the bias field lines until no more bias flux remains. At this point, vacuum reversed field accumulates around the configuration which contracts axially until an equilibrium is reached. When extrapolating the use of such a technique to reactor size plasmas two main shortcomings are found. First, the initial bias field, and hence flux in a given device, which can be reconnected to form the configuration is limited from above by destructive axial dynamics. Second, the voltages required to produce rapid current reversal in the coil are very large. Clearly, a low voltage formation technique without limitations on flux addition is desirable. The Coaxial Slow Source (CSS) device was designed to meet this need. It has two coaxial theta pinch coils. Coaxial coil geometry allows for the addition of as much magnetic flux to the annular plasma between them as can be generated inside the inner coil. Furthermore the device can be operated at charging voltages less than 10 kV and on resistive diffusion, rather than implosive time scales. The inner coil is a novel, concentric, helical design so as to allow it to be cantilevered on one end to permit translation of the plasma. Following translation off the inner coil the Annular Field Reversed Configuration would be re-formed as a true FRC. In this paper we investigate the formation process in the new parallel configuration., CSSP, in which the inner and outer coils are connected in parallel to the main capacitor bank.
- Research Organization:
- Washington Univ., Seattle, WA (United States). Aerospace and Energetics Research Program
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG06-87ER53243
- OSTI ID:
- 5306566
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/53243-4; UWAERP-33; ON: DE91016947
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FIELD-REVERSED THETA PINCH DEVICES
MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT
CONFINEMENT TIME
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PROGRESS REPORT
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
COMPACT TORUS
CONFINEMENT
DOCUMENT TYPES
PINCH DEVICES
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TORI
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