TMX-U experimental results

Conference · Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5808168

Simonen, T C; Allen, S L; Casper, T A; Clauser, J F; Clower, C A; Coensgen, F H; Correll, D L; Cummins, W F; Damm, C C; Failor, B H

This paper describes results from the Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U). Mirror-confined electrons with 30 to 70 keV mean energy densities of 0.5 to 2.0 x 10/sup 12/ cm/sup -3/ and average betas of 3 to 5% are produced using electron-cyclotron resonant heating (ECRH). These results are consistent with an electron Fokker-Planck code. Improved ion-cyclotron microstability is observed using neutral beam injection at 47/sup 0/ to the magnetic axis, rather than at 90/sup 0/ as in the previous experiment, TMX. Strong end plugging has been produced using a combination of ECRH gyrotrons with sloshing-ion beam injection. In these low-density central cell experiments (3 x 10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/) the axial losses (tau/sub parallel/ = 20 to 80 ms) are smaller than the nonambipolar radial losses (tau/sub perpendicular/ = 4 to 8 ms). Plugging has been achieved with a central cell density double that of the end plugs. Although no direct measurements are yet available to determine if a thermal barrier potential dip is generated, these experiments support many theoretical features of the thermal barrier concept.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5808168
• Report Number(s): UCRL-89286; CONF-830909-4; ON: DE83016790
• Conference Information: Course and workshop on mirror-based and field-reversed approaches to magnetic fusion, Varenna, Italy, 7 Sep 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700104* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Plasma Kinetics-Experimental-- (-1987)
CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECR HEATING
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
PLUGGING
REVIEWS
TANDEM MIRRORS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TMX DEVICES