Stability of field-reversed configurations in the large [ital s] experiment (LSX)

Journal Article · Tue Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1993 · Physics of Fluids B; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860554· OSTI ID:5835551

Slough, J T; Hoffman, A L ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Redmond, Washington 98052 (United States)

Data from several diagnostics employed on the Large [ital s] Experiment (LSX) field-reversed theta pinch were analyzed to seek correlation between plasma distortions and the confinement properties of the field-reversed configurations (FRC's) formed. In particular, an array of [ital B][sub [theta]] probes was used to determine separatrix movement, which might indicate the existence of low-order modes, such as a tilt instability. No correlation between the quality of confinement and signal was observed. The parameter [ital s], equal to the average number of ion gyroradii inside the separatrix, has been postulated as a measure of FRC stability with values above 2, leading to instability and loss of confinement. However, the confinement observed in experiments conducted over a large range of [ital s] (1[lt][ital s][lt]8) appeared to correlate more with the shape of the equilibrium radial density profile produced during formation rather than [ital s]. Flatter profiles correlated with poorer confinement.

• OSTI ID: 5835551
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (United States) Vol. 5:12; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPEI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700310 -- Plasma Confinement-- (1992-)
700340* -- Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities-- (1992-)
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
COMPACT TORUS
CONFINEMENT
FIELD-REVERSED THETA PINCH DEVICES
FLUID MECHANICS
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PINCH DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PROBES
STABILIZATION
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TILTING INSTABILITY
TORI