Confinement properties of the RFP (Reversed Field Pinch)

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6357675

Weber, P G; Schoenberg, K F; Ingraham, J C; Miller, G; Munson, C P; Pickrell, M M; Wurden, ^[1]; Tsui, H Y.W.; Ritz, Ch P ^[2]; Ellis, R F ^[3]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
2. Texas Univ., Austin, TX (USA). Fusion Research Center
3. Maryland Univ., College Park, MD (USA)

Research in ZT-40M has been focused on elucidating the confinement properties of the Reversed Field Pinch (RFP). Recent improvements in diagnostic capability have permitted measurement of radial profiles, as well as a detailed study of the edge plasma. The emerging confinement picture for ZT-40M has several ingredients: Typically 0.3 of the Ohmic input power to ZT-40M is available to drive fluctuations. Evidence points to this fluctuational power heating the ions. Approximately one quarter of the input power is lost through radiation, with metal impurities playing a key role. Magnetic fluctations in ZT-40M are at the percent level, as measured in the edge plasma. Extrapolating these data to small radii shows stochasticity in the core plasma. Suprathermal electrons are measured in the edge plasma. These electrons originate in the core, and transport to the edge along the fluctuating magnetic field lines. Under typical conditions, these electrons constitute the major electron energy loss channel in ZT-40M. Electrostatic fluctuations dominate the edge electron particle flux, but not the electron thermal flux. The major ion loss process is charge exchange, with smaller contributions from conduction and convection. In examining these observations, and the parametric dependences of confinement, a working model for RFP confinement emerges. An overview of this model, together with implications for the multi-mega-ampere ZTH experiment will be presented.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6357675
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-90-3457; CONF-9010230--3; ON: DE91002322
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
CONFINEMENT
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
FLUCTUATIONS
HEATING
PARTICLE LOSSES
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA HEATING
VARIATIONS
ZT-40 DEVICES