Field reversal experiments (FRX). [Equilibrium, confinement, and stability]

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6917873

Linford, R K; Armstrong, W T; Platts, D A; Sherwood, E G

The equilibrium, confinement, and stability properties of the reversed-field configuration (RFC) are being studied in two theta-pinch facilities. The RFC is an elongated toroidal plasma confined in a purely poloidal field geometry. The open field lines of the linear theta pinch support the closed-field RFC much like the vertical field centers the toroidal plasma in a tokamak. Depending on stability and confinement properties, the RFC might be used to greatly reduce the axial losses in linear fusion devices such as mirrors, theta pinches, and liners. The FRX systems produce RFC's with a major radius R = 2-6 cm, minor radius a approximately 2 cm, and a total length l approximately 35 cm. The observed temperatures are T/sub e/ approximately 100 eV and T/sub i/ = 150-350 eV with a peak density n approximately 2 x 10/sup 15/ cm/sup -3/. After the plasma reaches equilibrium, the RFC remains stable for up to 30 ..mu..s followed by the rapid growth of the rotational m = 2 instability, which terminates the confinement. During the stable equilibrium, the particle and energy confinement times are more than 10 times longer than in an open-field system. The behavior of the m = 2 mode qualitatively agrees with the theoretically predicted instability for rotational velocities exceeding some critical value.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6917873
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-78-1914; CONF-780811-13
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
700107 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFINEMENT
ENERGY LOSSES
EQUILIBRIUM PLASMA
INSTABILITY
MOTION
PINCH DEVICES
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH
ROTATION
STABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOROIDAL PINCH DEVICES
TOROIDAL THETA PINCH DEVICES