Equilibrium and stability of the Tara tandem mirror experiment

Conference · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5471281

Lane, B G

The MHD equilibrium and stability of the Tara machine is analyzed. MHD equilibrium theory is shown to predict small distortions away from circular pressure surfaces in the Tara experiment due to parallel currents generated in the nonaxisymmetric anchors. Central cell fluctuations are dominated by radially rigid, m = 1 flute modes in which the entire column oscillates about the machine axis. These modes can be stabilized by outboard quadrupole anchors, but are also sensitive to gas input and central cell ion cyclotron heating (ICH) power levels. During the strong endloss reduction realized in plugging experiments, the source for the anchor plasma is cut off with a consequent decline in ion beta leading to a reappearance of central cell flute modes. A magnetic divertor installed at the central cell mid-plane in order to ameliorate this difficulty has significantly enlarged the stable operating parameter regime. Axially localized instabilities are clearly observed in the plug cells during the application of plug ICH and are conjectured to exist during the application of axicell ECH. 23 refs., 8 figs.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Plasma Fusion Center
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-78ET51013
• OSTI ID: 5471281
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/51013-238; CONF-8709203-2; PFC/CP-87-19; ON: DE88006259
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
DATA
DIVERTORS
ECR HEATING
EQUILIBRIUM
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
ICR HEATING
INFORMATION
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
NUMERICAL DATA
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA INSTABILITY
TANDEM MIRRORS
TARA DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES