Axisymmetric open magnetic systems for plasma confinement

At present, three modern types of different mirror machines for plasma confinement and heating exist in Novosibirsk (Gas Dynamic Trap, -GDT, Multi-mirror, - GOL-3, Tandem Mirror, -AMBAL-M). All these systems are attractive from the engineering point of view because of very simple axisymmetric geometry of magnetic configurations. In this paper, the status of different confinement systems is presented. The experiments most crucial for the mirror concept are described such as a demonstration of different principles of suppression of electron heat conductivity (GDT, GOL-3), finding of MHD stable regimes of plasma confinement in axisymmetric geometric of magnetic field (GDT, AMBAL-M), an effective heating of dense plasma by relativistic electron beam (GOL-3), observation of radial diffusion of quiescent plasma with practically classical diffusion coefficient (AMBAL-M), etc. The main plasma parameters achieved in mentioned above systems are presented

Mathematical and experimental simulation of a cylindrical plasma target trap with inverse magnetic mirrors

A plasma target for highly efficient neutralization of powerful negative ion beams is considered. The plasma is confined within a magnetic trap with multipole magnetic walls. It is proposed to use inverse magnetic mirrors to limit plasma outflow through the inlet and outlet holes in the trap. Using the particle-in-cell method, mathematical simulation of plasma dynamics in the trap has been performed. The estimates of plasma distribution and particle confinement efficiency in the region of the magnetic mirrors has been obtained. Simulation results were compared with experimental data

Negative ion surface-plasma source development for fusion in Novosibirsk

This paper is a review of research effected on negative ion plasma-surface sources in the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Novosibirsk. It contains the description of the performances of the planatron, a source which produced in 1972 in pure hydrogen a density of H- ion current of 0.75 A/cm2. The results of recent studies of this source, in the 1987 version, designated as semi-planatron, are also presented. The experiments effected by adding cesium to the hydrogen discharge lead to a theoretical model of the surface-plasma sources with low work function cathode. The optimization of the negative ion production led to the increase of the beam intensity to 11 A.Cet article présente une synthèse des travaux effectués à l'Institut de Physique Nucléaire de Novosibirsk sur les sources plasma-surface d'ions négatifs. Il contient la description des performances du planatron, une source qui a produit en 1972 une densité de courant d'ions H- de 0,75 A/cm2 en hydrogène pur. Les résultats des études de cette source dans sa version 1987, désignée semi-planatron, sont aussi présentés. Les expériences effectuées en ajoutant du césium à la décharge d'hydrogène ont conduit à l'élaboration d'un modèle théorique des sources plasma-surface à cathode à faible travail de sortie. L'optimisation de la production des ions négatifs a permis d'augmenter l'intensité du faisceau à 11 A