Generation of a Reversed-Field Plasma, Confinement Configuration with a Rotating Relativistic Electron Beam.
Abstract
A reversed-field plasma confinement geometry has been produced by plasma currents induced by a rotating relativistic electron beam injected into 85 mTorr neutral hydrogen. The resulting belt-pinch-like configuration has a rectangular cross-section, with length-to-width ratio of 20, and a midplane beta = .5. An equilibrium model, fitted to measurements of the excluded flux and induced axial (Delta B sub Z) and azimuthal (B sub Theta) magnetic fields, is in agreement with the annular plasma profile observed with radial thomson scattering scans, CO2 interferometry and end-on streak photographs. After beam passage, Delta B sub Z remains constant for 5 microseconds until B sub Theta becomes small, at which time the plasma collapses radially. The observed decay times of 4 microseconds, and concurrent increase in T sub e (from 5-to-10eV) are consistent with classical dissipation of the induced currents. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA047822
Entities
People
- A. E. Robson
- D. A. Hammer
- D. N. Spector
- John D. Sethian
- K. A. Gerber
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory