Oscillating field current drive experiments in a reversed field pinch

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.866629· OSTI ID:6964662

Schoenberg, K F; Ingraham, J C; Munson, C P; Weber, P G; Baker, D A; Gribble, R F; Howell, R B; Miller, G; Reass, W A; Schofield, A E; others, and

Steady-state current sustainment by oscillating field current drive (OFCD) utilizes a technique in which the toroidal and poloidal magnetic fields at the plasma surface are modulated at audio frequencies in quadrature. Experiments on the ZT-40M reversed field pinch (Fusion Technol. 8, 1571 (1985)) have examined OFCD over a range of modulation amplitude, frequency, and phase. For all cases examined, the magnitude of the plasma current is dependent on the phase of the modulations as predicted by theory. However, evidence of current drive has only been observed at relatively low levels of injected power. For larger modulation amplitudes, the data suggest that substantial current drive is offset by increased plasma resistance as a result of modulation enhanced plasma--wall interactions. The initial experimental results and supporting theoretical interpretations of OFCD are discussed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
• OSTI ID: 6964662
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 31:8; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
CURRENT-DRIVE HEATING
ELECTRIC HEATING
HEATING
JOULE HEATING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MODULATION
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
PLASMA HEATING
RESISTANCE HEATING
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH