High-beta plasma research. Progress report, February 1975--February 1976

Candidate fusion reactor first wall materials have been exposed to a hot deuterium plasma with a time integrated total ion fluence of 6 x 1021 eV cm-2, which is equivalent to one year of contemplated tokamak CTR operation. Damage of the material microstructure has been observed. Studies of the physics of a fusion plasma-wall boundary layer were completed. An infrared diagnostic technique was developed to determine unpurity concentration in laboratory plasmas. Torus I, a low aspect ratio, rectangular cross section, axisymmetric machine was built and put into operation. Measurement of plasma properties, and the equilibrium and stability properties of this torus are in progress. Additional heating techniques, to achieve a hot, higher energy density plasma, are being studied. A new Torus II is being studied to succeed Torus I