1. Achieving a long-lived high-beta plasma state by energetic beam injection
- Author
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Michl Binderbauer, Erik Trask, Hiroshi Gota, E. Garate, T. Tajima, R. D. Milroy, Ales Necas, L. C. Steinhauer, Sergey Korepanov, Xiaokang Yang, Thomas Roche, Houyang Guo, and Artem Smirnov
- Subjects
Multidisciplinary ,Materials science ,Dense plasma focus ,General Physics and Astronomy ,General Chemistry ,Plasma ,Kinetic energy ,Instability ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,Ion ,Tilt (optics) ,Physics::Plasma Physics ,Beta (plasma physics) ,Atomic physics ,Beam (structure) - Abstract
Developing a stable plasma state with high-beta (ratio of plasma to magnetic pressures) is of critical importance for an economic magnetic fusion reactor. At the forefront of this endeavour is the field-reversed configuration. Here we demonstrate the kinetic stabilizing effect of fast ions on a disruptive magneto-hydrodynamic instability, known as a tilt mode, which poses a central obstacle to further field-reversed configuration development, by energetic beam injection. This technique, combined with the synergistic effect of active plasma boundary control, enables a fully stable ultra-high-beta (approaching 100%) plasma with a long lifetime.
- Published
- 2014