[en] The current status of magnetic fusion is summarized. The science is in place; the application must be made. Government will have to underwrite the risk of the program, but the private sector must manage it. Government officials must be convinced fusion is in the interest of the taxpayer, private sector decision makers that it is commercial. Questions concerning reliability, availability, first cost, safety, environment, and sociology must be asked. Fusion energy is essentially inexhaustible, appears environmentally acceptable, and is one of a very short list of alternatives

[en] A straight tube plasma device with a longitudinal magnetic field is proposed. A plasma blob will be created at the initial moment of time in the middle part of the apparatus, after which the plasma will be freely spread to the ends of the tube. The crimped magnetic systems consists of a set of mirrors, connected by the ends. In each mirror there are trapped particles accomplishing a finite movement between the mirrors. Containment parameters of the device are presented. (U.S.)

[en] Over the last several years, a great deal of effort has been devoted to solve the problem of power and particle handling in divertors, which has been recognised as a critical issue for the operation of a magnetic fusion reactor. In particular the choice of materials for plasma facing components has been examined in view of developing heat and erosion resistant materials for divertor target plates. A large data base on the behaviour of low materials in Tokamak is available, while for high Z materials there is little experience in present generation of magnetic fusion devices. FTU, a high field compact Tokamak, has devoted part of its experimental campaign to study the plasma characteristics when its limiter material is changed from the usual Inconel to molybdenum and tungsten. In this work results are reported concerning the plasma operation, the difference in plasma characteristics and radiation losses, the impurity generation mechanisms and their relative concentrations in the core plasma. A simulation of the experimental results, made with a self-consistent edge-core coupled model is presented, in order to put in evidence the main physics mechanisms responsible for the observed behaviour

[en] With the TASKA-study it could be demonstrated, that, in a tandem mirror based test facility with a thermal barrier, all necessary technical components can be integrated into one system. As a result important technologies have been developed and studied for a demonstration fusion reactor system. This could be achieved with a set-up of acceptable size and relatively low cost compared with similar test facilities (INTOR). (orig.)

[en] This paper discusses experimental progress in the control, confinement, and understanding of magnetic-mirror confined plasmas. The data base established in previous experiments on which magnetic-mirror principles are based is summarized. It includes a detailed description of present tandem and field-reversed mirror experimental results. In addition, the author discusses the concepts and parameters of experiments now under construction and how these experiments can both test new thermal-barrier concepts and bridge the gap between existing facilities and eventual power producers. Small-scale physics-oriented experiments, aimed at testing new ideas and refining knowledge of mirror confinement are described. The paper concludes with an extensive bibliography of reports from the field of magnetic-mirror fusion. 95 refs

[en] Experiments on strong E layers trapped in a magnetic mirror field, B₀, indicate anomalous fast-particle losses when quadrupole Ioffe field components, B/sub Q/, are added. These losses include both loss bursts at critical field-reversal levels delta equivalent deltaB/B₀ of approx. 25% and approx. 50% (independent of B/sub Q/ and gas pressure) and enhanced steady-state losses between and above these levels. The anomalous loss rate normalized to the normal collisional loss rate is independent of the background pressure, but roughly proportional to B/sub Q/ with no evident threshold

[en] This invention concerns a magnetic mirror for charged particle beams and, in particular, a charged particle accelerator (electrons for example) with variable energy, this accelerator being fitted with this magnetic mirror thereby enabling the charged particle beam to be passed twice through the accelerating structure

[en] The motion of a charged particle in a magnetic mirror device is compared to the motion of a bead spiralling into a smooth hollow cone. The complete solution of the motion of the bead is derived and physical aspects of the solution obtained are discussed. Similarities between the motion of the bead and that of a charged particle in a magnetic mirror device are pointed out. The effort is primarily aimed at enhancing the physical understanding of the mechanics of a charged particle in a magnetic mirror device and secondarily at proposing an equivalent mechanics problem, devoid of any electro-dynamical aspect but still possessing all the interesting features of the original problem. The proposed problem can be taught at upper-division undergraduate level

[en] During 1976, new Mirror Program plans have been laid out to take into account the significant advances during the last 18 months. The program is now focused on two new mirror concepts, field reversal and the tandem mirror, that can obtain high Q, defined as the ratio of fusion power output to the neutral-beam power injected to sustain the reaction. Theoretically, both concepts can attain Q = 5 or more, as compared to Q = 1 in previous mirror designs. Experimental planning for the next 5 years is complete in broad outline, and we are turning attention to what additional steps are necessary to reach our long-range goal of an experimental mirror reactor operating by 1990. Highlights of the events that have led to the above circumstance are listed, and experimental program plans are outlined

No abstract available