Evidence for Separatrix Formation and Sustainment with Steady Inductive Helicity Injection

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.107.165005
• Publication Date: 2011-10-13T17:10:02Z
• Authors: B. S. Victor; T. R. Jarboe; A. C. Hossack; D. A. Ennis; B. A. Nelson; R. J. Smith; C. Akcay; C. J. Hansen; G. J. Marklin; N. K. Hicks; J. S. Wrobel
• Keywords: Spheromak; Helicity; Separatrix; Reversed field pinch; Neutral Beam Injection

The first sustainment of toroidal plasma current 50 kA at up to 3 times the injected currents, added in quadrature, using steady inductive helicity injection is described. Separatrix currents-currents not linking injectors-are sustained 40 kA. Decreases n=1 mode poloidal magnetic field higher amplifications indicate more quiescent, direct drive. Results are achieved HIT-SI (with a spheromak major radius 0.3 m) during deuterium operations immediately after helium operation. These results represent breakthrough development this new drive method for confinement fusion.