EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES OF MHD SHEAR HEATING
Abstract
Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) shear heating, which occurs at the interface of two counter-rotating layers of plasma, is evaluated as a means for rapidly heating a confined plasma. An experimental program to examine the feasibility of such a scheme was undertaken. The two interacting plasmas are initially set into rotational motion via the application of J x B Lorentz forces. Insofar as their longitudinal collisional velocities are concerned, these are produced in the coaxial plasma guns which are described. This technique (rotational shear) for heating a plasma has three important features: (1) although the Joule heating decreases as the plasma temperature rises because of a decrease in resistivity, the viscosity increases with temperature; (2) energy transfer to the plasmas becomes more efficient as their rotation increases; and (3) the magnetic field providing the rotational effect also serves to confine the plasma via a mirror machine configuration. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0289280