Overview of C-2 field-reversed configuration experiment plasma diagnosticsa) Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85, 11D836 (2014); 10.1063/1.4884616 Density fluctuation measurements by far-forward collective scattering in the MST reversed-field pincha) Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10E302 (2012);A new high performance field reversed configuration operating regime in the C-2 devicea)Conventional field-reversed configurations (FRCs), high-beta, prolate compact toroids embedded in poloidal magnetic fields, face notable stability and confinement concerns. These can be ameliorated by various control techniques, such as introducing a significant fast ion population. Indeed, adding neutral beam injection into the FRC over the past half-decade has contributed to striking improvements in confinement and stability. Further, the addition of electrically biased plasma guns at the ends, magnetic end plugs, and advanced surface conditioning led to dramatic reductions in turbulence-driven losses and greatly improved stability. Together, these enabled the build-up of a well-confined and dominant fast-ion population. Under such conditions, highly reproducible, macroscopically stable hot FRCs (with total plasma temperature of $1 keV) with record lifetimes were achieved. These accomplishments point to the prospect of advanced, beam-driven FRCs as an intriguing path toward fusion reactors. This paper reviews key results and presents context for further interpretation. V C 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.
A hot stable field-reversed configuration (FRC) has been produced in the C-2 experiment by colliding and merging two high-β plasmoids preformed by the dynamic version of field-reversed θ-pinch technology. The merging process exhibits the highest poloidal flux amplification obtained in a magnetic confinement system (over tenfold increase). Most of the kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy with total temperature (T{i}+T{e}) exceeding 0.5 keV. The final FRC state exhibits a record FRC lifetime with flux confinement approaching classical values. These findings should have significant implications for fusion research and the physics of magnetic reconnection.
The paper deals with the initial motion of a two-dimensional bubble starting from rest in the form of a cylinder with its axis horizontal. The theory is based on the assumptions of irrotational motion in the liquid round the bubble, constant pressure within the bubble, and small displacements from the cylindrical form. This theory predicts that the bubble should rise with the acceleration of gravity, over a distance of at least the initial bubble radius, and that a tongue of liquid should be projected up from the base of the bubble into its interior. These predictions are confirmed by experiments which also show how the vorticity necessary for steady motion in the spherical-cap form is generated by the detachment of two small bubbles from the back of the main bubble.
This paper deals with the initial motion of a gas bubble starting from rest in a liquid in the form of a sphere. Part 1 (Walters & Davidson 1962) was concerned with the similar problem of the initial motion of a two-dimensional bubble starting from rest in the form of a cylinder.Theory and experiments like those of Part 1 are given for the present problem, and yield qualitatively similar results, the three-dimensional bubble having an initial acceleration equal to twice that of gravity, and distorting into the form of a mushroom. This distortion ultimately causes break-up, but whereas the two-dimensional bubble always detaches two small bubbles at its rear, the three-dimensional bubble breaks up into a small spherical-cap bubble with a large toroid below. A discussion of the toroidal bubble is given, and its relation to the distorted sphere from which it is formed.The initial-motion theory is extended to deal with the problem of the growing, accelerating bubble, and leads to an expression for the volume of bubbles formed continuously at an orifice, and to a criterion for the gas flow-rate at which coalescence occurs between successive bubbles. These theoretical results are compared with experimental data from the literature and from the authors’ experiments at high gas flow-rates.
Tri Alpha Energy's experimental program has demonstrated reliable field-reversed configuration (FRC) formation and sustainment, driven by fast ions via high-power neutral-beam (NB) injection. The world's largest compact-toroid device, C-2U, was upgraded from C-2 with the following key system upgrades: increased total NB input power from ~4 MW (20 keV hydrogen) to 10+ MW (15 keV hydrogen) with tilted injection angle; enhanced edge-biasing capability inside of each end divertor for boundary/stability control. C-2U experiments with those upgraded systems have successfully demonstrated dramatic improvements in FRC performance and achieved sustainment of advanced beam-driven FRCs with a macroscopically stable and hot plasma state for up to 5+ ms. Plasma diamagnetism in the best discharges has reached record lifetimes of over 11 ms, timescales twice as long as C-2. The C-2U plasma performance, including the sustainment feature, has a strong correlation with NB pulse duration, with the diamagnetism persisting even several milliseconds after NB termination due to the accumulated fast-ion population by NB injection. Power balance analysis shows substantial improvements in equilibrium and transport parameters, whereby electron energy confinement time strongly correlates with electron temperature; i.e. the confinement time in C-2U scales strongly with a positive power of T e .
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.