Inductive Sustainment of Oblate FRCs with the Assistance of Magnetic Diffusion, Shaping and Finite-Lamor Radius Stabilization
Authors: S. Gerhardt, E.V. Belova, M. Yamada, H. Ji, M. Inomoto, C.M. Jacobson, R. Maqueda, B. McGeehan and Y. Ren
Abstract:
Oblate field-reversed configurations FRCs have been sustained for >300 µs, or >15 magnetic diffusion times, through the use of an inductive solenoid. These argon FRCs can have their poloidal flux sustained or increased, depending on the timing and strength of the induction. An inward pinch is observed during sustainment, leading to a peaking of the pressure profile and maintenance of the FRC equilibrium. The good stability observed in argon (and krypton) does not transfer to lighter gases, which develop terminal co-interchange instabilities. The stability in argon and krypton is attributed to a combination of external field shaping, magnetic diffusion, and finite-Larmor radius effects.
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Accepted to: Physics of Plasmas (January 2008)
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Download PPPL-4337 (pdf 1.86MB 16pp)
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