Radial ion transport measurements in a nonaxisymmetric magnetic mirror

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859398· OSTI ID:6357357

Goodman, D L; Petty, C C; Post, R S ^[1]

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1. Plasma Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (USA)

Experimental radial ion transport rates and diffusion coefficients are presented for the Constance-B magnetic mirror (Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 58}, 1853 (1987)). The transport experiments are performed by measuring steady state equilibrium radial profiles of plasma density, ionization source, end loss current, electric field, electron temperature, and ion temperature. A charge coupled device (CCD) camera system (Rev. Sci. Instrum. {bold 60}, 2835 (1989)) is used to measure the two-dimensional radial density, source, and electron temperature profiles. End loss diagnostics including movable Faraday cups, electrostatic end loss analyzers, and an ion time-of-flight analyzer (Rev. Sci. Instrum. {bold 59}, 601 (1988)) are used to measure radial profiles of potential and ion temperature. The ion confinement time perpendicular to the magnetic field is found to be an order of magnitude shorter than predicted by classical and neoclassical transport theories. The radial profiles of the perpendicular diffusion coefficient ({ital D}{sub {perpendicular}}) are presented for hydrogen, helium, and argon plasmas. The coefficients are a factor of 10 larger than the maximum classical and neoclassical coefficients in all three plasmas. Plasma fluctuations resulting from whistler mode microinstability (Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 59}, 1821 (1987)) as well as nonaxisymmetric potentials are suggested as possible explanations for the experimentally measured radial transport rate.

• OSTI ID: 6357357
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Vol. 2:9; ISSN 0899-8221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA
ION DRIFT
DIFFUSION
ECR HEATING
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
END EFFECTS
EQUILIBRIUM
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA HEATING
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700103* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Kinetics
700102 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Diagnostics
700101 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
Heating
& Production