Published August 2007 | Version v1
Journal article

Non-inductive solenoid-less plasma current startup in NSTX using transient CHI

  • 1. University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (United States)
  • 2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ 08543 (United States)
  • 3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (United States)
  • 4. University of California-Davis, Livermore, CA 94551 (United States)
  • 5. Nova Photonics, Princeton, NJ 08543 (United States)

Description

Coaxial helicity injection (CHI) has been successfully used in the National Spherical Torus Experiment for a demonstration of closed flux current generation without the use of the central solenoid. The favourable properties of the spherical torus (ST) arise from its very small aspect ratio. However, small aspect ratio devices have very restricted space for a substantial central solenoid. Thus methods for initiating the plasma current without relying on induction from a central solenoid are essential for the viability of the ST concept. CHI is a promising candidate for solenoid-free plasma startup in a ST. The method has now produced closed flux current up to 160 kA verifying the high current capability of this method in a large ST built with conventional tokamak components

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/0029-5515/47/8/009;
PII
S0029-5515(07)42887-3;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Nuclear Fusion
Journal Volume
47
Journal Issue
8
Journal Page Range
p. 792-799
ISSN
0029-5515
CODEN
NUFUAU

INIS

Country of Publication
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
39033902
Subject category
S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY;
Descriptors DEI
ASPECT RATIO; ELECTRIC CURRENTS; NSTX DEVICE; PLASMA; SOLENOIDS; SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION; TRANSIENTS
Descriptors DEC
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES; CONFIGURATION; CURRENTS; DIMENSIONLESS NUMBERS; ELECTRIC COILS; ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; SPHEROMAK DEVICES; THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES; TOKAMAK DEVICES