Annual report to DOE of the fusion programs in applied plasma physics and development and technology at GA Technologies Inc., fiscal 1985

Highlights of the fusion theory effort described in this report include investigations of the beta limits in the DIII-D device, neoclasical transport in tokamaks with divertors, and tokamak transport code simulations with electrostatic drift wave models. Experimental plasma research efforts are addressing several important issues in fusion research. Gamma ray spectroscopy and triton confinement diagnostics are being developed to enable fusion researchers to understand alpha particle confinement and slowdown in burning plasmas. Current density profile diagnostic development continued because of the importance of such information to understanding MHD stabilization, plasma heating, and plasma confinement. Experiments on ergodic magnetic divertor phenomena on the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT) continued to demonstrate low plasma edge temperatures and impurity reduction that make the concept attractive for reactor applications. 7 refs., 23 figs., 5 tabs