Plasma Injection and Collision Phenomena in an Octupole Magnetic Field.
Abstract
Controlled thermonuclear fusion research requires the filling of containment devices with high temperature plasma. With one common filling method the plasma is created by plasma guns outside the confining field and then is injected into the containment region. The need exists for increasing the density and temperature of plasma that can be injected and trapped in containment devices. The work investigates transverse plasma injection into a linear octupole magnetic field by using two colliding plasmas for injection instead of the usual single plasma. Both two conical theta pinch and two coaxial plasma guns produce plasmas used in the experiments. The construction and operation of a conical theta pinch gun system is described, and a detailed study of the plasmas from this gun is presented. Experimental measurements with diagnostics such as magnetic probes, unbiasted electric probes, and Faraday cup ion probes provide information along the octupole injection axis that describes the phenomena that occur when the two plasmas are injected and interact. A computer simulation of two-plasma injection into a magnetic field similar to the octupole field is carried out. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 30, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0743007
Entities
People
- J. L. Ligon
- W. C. Duesterhoeft Jr
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin