Abstract
Results obtained on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) reversed-field pinch [Fusion Technol. 19, 131 (1991)] after installation of the design poloidal field winding are presented. Values of βθe0≡2μ 0ne0Te0/Bθ2(a) ∼12% are achieved in low-current (I=220 kA) operation; here, ne0 and Te0 are central electron density and temperature, and B θ (a) is the poloidal magnetic field at the plasma edge. An observed decrease in βθe0 with increasing plasma current may be due to inadequate fueling, enhanced wall interaction, and the growth of a radial field error at the vertical cut in the shell at high current. Energy confinement time varies little with plasma current, lying in the range of 0.5-1.0 msec. Strong discrete dynamo activity is present, characterized by the coupling of m = 1, n = 5-7 modes leading to an m = 0, n = 0 crash (m and n are poloidal and toroidal mode numbers). The m = 0 crash generates toroidal flux and produces a small (2.5%) increase in plasma current.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2241-2246 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Physics of Fluids B |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1991 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Computational Mechanics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- General Physics and Astronomy
- Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes