Generating end plug potentials in tandem mirror plasma confinement by heating thermal particles so as to escape low density end stoppering plasmas
The invention provides a method and apparatus for raising the potential of a magnetic mirror cell by pumping charged particles of the opposite sign of the potential desired out of the mirror cell through excitation, with the pumping being done by an externally imposed field at the bounce frequency of the above charged particles. These pumped simple mirror cells then provide end stoppering for a center mirror cell for the tandem mirror plasma confinement apparatus. For the substantially complete pumping case, the end plugs of a tandem mirror can be up to two orders of magnitude lower in density for confining a given center mirror cell plasma than in the case of end plugs without pumping. As a result the decrease in recirculating power required to keep the system going, the technological state of the art required, and the capital cost are all greatly lowered.
- Assignee:
- Department of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4252608
- Application Number:
- TRN: 81-016385
- OSTI ID:
- 6052285
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 16 Mar 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Generating end plug potentials in tandem mirror plasma confinement by heating thermal particles so as to escape low density end stoppering plasmas
Electrostatic end plugging accompanied by a central-cell density increase in an axisymmetric tandem mirror
Related Subjects
MAGNETIC MIRROR CONFIGURATIONS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
TMX DEVICES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROSTATICS
EXCITATION
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PUMPING
CONFINEMENT
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
OPEN CONFIGURATIONS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
RADIATION TRANSPORT
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700202* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Magnet Coils & Fields