The impedance and energy efficiency of a coaxial magnetized plasma source used for spheromak formation and sustainment

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859459· OSTI ID:6682256

Barnes, C W; Jarboe, T R; Marklin, G J; Knox, S O; Henins, I ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (USA)

Electrostatic (dc) helicity injection has previously been shown to successfully sustain the magnetic fields of spheromaks and tokamaks. The magnitude of the injected magnetic helicity balances (within experimental error) the flux lost by resistive decay of the toroidal equilibrium. Hence the problem of optimizing this current drive scheme involves maximizing the injected helicity (the voltage-connecting-flux product) while minimizing the current (which multiplied by the voltage represents the energy input and also possible damage to the electrodes). The impedance (voltage-to-current ratio) and energy efficiency of a dc helicity injection experiment are studied on the CTX spheromak (Phys. Fluids {bold 29}, 3415 (1986)). Over several years changes were made in the physical geometry of the coaxial magnetized plasma source as well as changes in the external electrical circuit. The source could be operated over a wide range of external charging voltage (and hence current), applied axial flux, and source gas flow rate.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 6682256
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Vol. 2:8; ISSN 0899-8221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CTX SPHEROMAK
MAGNETIC FLUX
CURRENT-DRIVE HEATING
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE
ELECTRODES
ELECTROSTATICS
ENERGY LOSSES
EQUILIBRIUM
ERRORS
HELICITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
OPTIMIZATION
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
ANNULAR SPACE
CLOSED CONFIGURATIONS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
ELECTRIC HEATING
HEATING
IMPEDANCE
JOULE HEATING
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PLASMA HEATING
RESISTANCE HEATING
SPACE
SPHEROMAK DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700101* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
Heating
& Production