Experimental beta limits of symmetric linear heliac configurations

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Physics of Plasmas; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.870599· OSTI ID:7271774

Spanjers, G G; Nelson, B A; Ribe, F L; Jarboe, T R ^[1]

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1. 120 AERL FL-10, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 (United States)

Helically symmetric heliac equilibria [H. P. Furth, [ital Plasma] [ital Physics] [ital and] [ital Controlled] [ital Fusion] [ital Research] (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1966), Vol. 1, p. 103] are formed on the High Beta Q Machine (HBQM) [C. M. Greenfield, Phys. Fluids B [bold 2], 133 (1990)] by using a fast-rising central conductor (hardcore) current in conjunction with a shock-heated [ital l]=1 stellarator configuration. The equilibria are found to possess a high global beta and the plasma pressure is approximately a flux-surface quantity. Under the effects of plasma, the magnetic well is found to deepen and the rotational transform is greatly increased and becomes highly sheared, owing to plasma currents induced by the fast-rising hardcore current. In the second phase of the experiment, the equilibrium fields of the symmetric heliac are lowered while maintaining the same shock heating in an attempt to raise the global beta. No substantial change in global beta is seen, indicating that the configuration forms at the beta limit in the shock-heated HBQM, and that the plasma beta seen in the first phase of the experiment is the symmetric heliac beta limit.

• DOE Contract Number: FG06-87ER53242
• OSTI ID: 7271774
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas; (United States) Vol. 1:8; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700370* -- Plasma Fluid & MHD Properties-- (1992-)
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFINEMENT
EQUILIBRIUM
HEATING
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA HEATING
SHOCK HEATING
STELLARATORS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES