On the way to project EPSILON

Abstract

The pseudosymmetry principle being used for hot plasma confinement magnetic systems design could provide the realization of all the ability of magnetic confinement for reactor construction. In particular, it enables hot plasma confinement at steady state operational mode with a ‘tokamak’ level of confinement time and a high average β value (plasma pressure to ‘vacuum’ magnetic field pressure ratio). High β operation provides the possibility of thinking of advanced fuels (D–3He, D–D) use.It is proposed to check the main idea and the results of a preliminary theoretical study experimentally in the frame of the EPSILON project—closed mirror magnetic trap with extremely small rotational transform and with poloidal pseudosymmetry. The EPSILON system consists of two (or more) multimirror traps, closed with curvilinear equilibrium elements. Mirror field, MHD stability and plasma cleaning are provided by axially symmetric divertors with zero magnetic field at the separatrix displaced along the multimirror traps.

TO THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE OGRA

“…Значительны достижения сотрудников отдела в теории распространения электромагнитных волн в неоднородной замагниченной плазме, на её базе разработан численный код OGREY, используемый, в частности, в расчётах ЭЦР-нагрева в токамаках. Стабилизирующий эффект ячеек с сильно неоднородным магнитным полем, включение которых в осесимметричные открытые системы без магнитной ямы позволяет придавать им МГД-устойчивость [20], эксплуатируется и в концепции устойчивой замкнутой бестоковой системы EPSILON [21]. В ней заложены важные с реакторной точки зрения возможности: большое , удержание «токамачного» уровня, стационарность, хорошая технологичность.…”

Conference summary: progress in experiments on innovative concepts, confinement and performance

“…As a way to optimize the magnetic confinement concept in view of fusion reactor relevance (steady-state and high β = 2µ 0 p /B 2 , B: magnetic field, p : averaged plasma pressure) the EPSILON project-closed rippled magnetic trap without rotational transform and with poloidal pseudo symmetry to provide high β operation; in practice, two or more crimped mirror traps closed with curvilinear elements-is being proposed [3]. The basic difference between the EPSILON project and Kadomtsev's original idea of magnetic traps with rippled magnetic field [4] is the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability and plasma cleaning to be provided by axially symmetrical divertors located along the mirror traps with a zero magnetic field at the separatrix.…”