Experimental observation of the hot-electron equilibrium in a minimum-B mirror plasma

Journal Article · Mon May 04 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.1853· OSTI ID:6473511

Smatlak, D L; Chen, X; Lane, B G; Hokin, S A; Post, R S

Measurements of the hot-electron (T = 450 keV, n = 2 x 10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/) equilibrium in the Constance B minimum-B magnetic mirror show that the pressure profile is peaked off the axis and is shaped like the seam on a baseball. This curve is the drift surface of the deeply trapped electrons and the location of the strongest microwave heating. The configuration is stable and decays quiescently on the hot-electron collisional time scale (1--2 s) after the microwave power is turned off. According to 1D pressure-weighted ..integral.. dl/B analysis this plasma configuration is expected to be unstable.

• Research Organization: Plasma Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 6473511
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 58:18; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
CONFINEMENT
DATA
ENERGY RANGE
EQUILIBRIUM
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HOT PLASMA
INFORMATION
KEV RANGE
KEV RANGE 100-1000
LOW-BETA PLASMA
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
NUMERICAL DATA
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES