Ion temperature and plasma flows in improved confinement mode in the H-1 heliac

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872258· OSTI ID:542600

Shats, M G; Rudakov, D L; Boswell, R W; Borg, G G ^[1]

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1. Plasma Research Laboratory, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 (Australia)

Low and improved confinement modes in the H-1 heliac [M. G. Shats {ital et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 77}, 4190 (1996)] are studied experimentally in rf-sustained ({lt}100 kW, 7 MHz) argon discharges at low magnetic fields ({lt}0.15 T). Surprisingly high ion temperature, measured using a retarding field energy analyzer, is found which increases across the transition to improved confinement mode from 40 to 80 eV, while the electron density increases by about 50{percent}. Both toroidal and poloidal plasma flow velocities do not change across the transition. The increase in a radial electric field in high mode is balanced on average by a corresponding increase in the ion pressure gradient. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 542600
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 4; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ARGON
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
FLUID FLOW
H-1 HELIAC
HIGH-FREQUENCY DISCHARGES
ION TEMPERATURE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA DENSITY
ROTATION