Experimental study on the velocity limits of magnetized rotating plasmas

An experimental study on the physical limits of the rotation velocity of magnetized plasmas is presented. Experiments are performed in the Maryland Centrifugal Experiment (MCX) [R. F. Ellis, Phys. Plasmas 12, 055704 (2005)], a mirror magnetic field plasma rotating azimuthally. The externally applied parameters that control the plasma characteristics-applied voltage, external magnetic field, and fill pressure-are scanned across the entire available range of values. It is found that the plasma rotation velocity does not exceed the Alfv́n velocity, in agreement with the equilibrium requirements of magnetically confined plasmas. Measured rotation velocities are also lower than the critical ionization velocity in hydrogen, but a strict limit was not observable within MCX parametric capabilities.