Plasma experiments on the linear scyllac theta pinch

Experiments on a 5-m-long theta pinch both with and without strong magnetic mirrors (R ≈ 2.5) are reported. When the experiment is operated without magnetic mirrors, the particle loss rate is found to scale from shorter theta-pinch experiments directly as the length and inversely as the ion thermal velocity. The electron temperature scales with length (l2/5) as predicted by a theory which accounts for thermal conduction to the ends. Addition of the magnetic mirrors increases plasma confinement time from 11.5 to 18.9 μsec. a smaller increase than predicted by available theories, and also produces an m = 1, k ≈ 0 instability which is moderated under certain conditions by "line tying" effects.