Compact toroids generated by a magnetized coaxial source in the CTX experiment
Compact toroids containing both toroidal and poloidal magnetic field (Spheromak-type) have been generated in CTX using a magnetized coaxial plasma gun. These CTs tear loose from the gun by magnetic field line reconnection, and they are trapped in flux conservers having various geometries. In a straight cylindrical flux conserver the CTs are observed to be unstable to a gross tilting mode. Stability to the tilting mode has been demonstrated in flux conservers having an oblate trapping region; however, the geometry of the entrance region leading to the trapping volume can also have important effects. Lifetimes of about 150 ..mu..s for the CTs are typically observed. Interferometric measurements give a value of about 2 x 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/ for the initial plasma density. The plasma temperature measured at a single spot near the minor magnetic axis decreases to around 10 eV by the time the magnetic reconnection is complete. Spectrographic measurements and pressure probe results are in agreement with this temperature. A snipper coil has been installed to induce the CT to tear loose from the gun sooner. The use of this coil is observed to speed up the magnetic field reconnection process by about a factor of 2.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6679004
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-81-325; CONF-810212-2; TRN: 81-004510
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: US/Japan joint workshop on compact toroids, Osaka, Japan, Feb 1981
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SPHEROMAK DEVICES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
ASPECT RATIO
ION TEMPERATURE
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA GUNS
STABILITY
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
TRAPPING
ANNULAR SPACE
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
SPACE
TOKAMAK DEVICES
700202* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Magnet Coils & Fields