ECRH in Tandem Mirror machines

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.1984.4316306· OSTI ID:6041936

Stallard, B W

Electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) is important in tandem mirror devices which incorporate thermal barriers to enhance plasma confinement. ECRH in the end cells generates hot mirrorconfined electrons to form the thermal barrier and creates the plugging potential to reduce ion end loss from the central cell. Important considerations for heating include a) the proper choice of wave polarization and harmonic number for wave penetration and efficient absorption, b) the possibility for control of hot electron energy and anisotropy by spatially limited heating, and c) the particle feed for hot electrons due to RF trapping processes. Fokker-Planck and Monte Carlo computer codes are useful for understanding these effects. The Tandem Mirror Experiment Upgrade (TMX-U) was constructed to investigate plasma confinement for the thermal barrier mode of operation. We carried out experiments to generate the hot electrons that are required for the thermal barrier. Heating efficiencies as large as 30 percent were observed. By combining the hot electron population with neutral-beam-injected hot ions and ECRH at the location of the desired potential peak, we strongly reduced the end loss of ions and measured plugging potentials up to 700 V. These results are consistent with the thermal barrier model.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, CA 94550
• OSTI ID: 6041936
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States) Vol. PS-12:2; ISSN ITPSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
ABSORPTION
ANISOTROPY
BEAM INJECTION
COMPUTER CODES
CONFINEMENT
ECR HEATING
EFFICIENCY
HARMONICS
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
LOSSES
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
NEUTRAL ATOM BEAM INJECTION
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA HEATING
POLARIZATION
TANDEM MIRRORS
THERMAL BARRIERS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TMX DEVICES