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Optimization of confinement in a toroidal plasma subject to strong radial electric fieldsThe toroidal ring of plasma contained in the NASA Lewis Bumpy Torus facility may be biased to positive or negative potentials approaching 50 kV by applying dc voltages of the respective polarity to 12 or fewer midplane electrode rings. The radial electric fields, which are responsible for raising the ions to high energies by E x B/B-squared drift, then point out of or into the plasma. A preliminary report is given on the identification and optimization of independent variables which affect the ion density and confinement time in the Bumpy Torus plasma. The independent variables include the polarity, position, and number of the midplane electrode rings, the method of gas injection, and the polarity and strength of a weak vertical magnetic field. Some characteristic data taken under conditions where most of the independent variables were optimized are presented. The highest value of the electron number density on the plasma axis is 3.2 trillion per cu cm, the highest ion heating efficiency is 47%, and the longest particle containment time is 2.0 msec.
Document ID
19770065106
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Roth, J. R.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1977
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Conference on Plasma Science
Location: Troy, NY
Start Date: May 23, 1977
End Date: May 25, 1977
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Accession Number
77A47958
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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