Current drive, heating and fueling by compact torus injection

The possibility of injecting small compact-torus (CT) plasma rings into magnetic fusion devices is considered. This discussion concentrates on a proposed new method for efficient current drive in Tokamaks and other toroidal devices in which the magnetic flux in the CT acts to excite the current. In addition to this aspect, CTs may be selectively loaded with matter or energetic particles, or may be accelerated to high kinetic energy (0.1 to 1 MeV/ion) to provide fuel or auxiliary heating for low-density fusion devices including tandem mirrors. The potential exists for high-Q (approx. 100) Tokamak operation as well as penetration to distances well beyond those available by neutral beams or fuel particles