A5067917502- Magnetic confinement fusion research
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Plasma Diagnostics and Applications
- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- Particle accelerators and beam dynamics
- Fusion materials and technologies
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Superconducting Materials and Applications
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineering
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications
- Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
- Nuclear Materials and Properties
- Non-Destructive Testing Techniques
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena
- Graphite, nuclear technology, radiation studies
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
- Electrostatic Discharge in Electronics
- Magnetic Field Sensors Techniques
Tri Alpha Energy (United States)
2016-2025
University of California, Irvine
2008
Nihon University
2003-2007
University of Washington
2006-2007
University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory
2006
Conventional field-reversed configurations (FRCs), high-beta, prolate compact toroids embedded in poloidal magnetic fields, face notable stability and confinement concerns. These can be ameliorated by various control techniques, such as introducing a significant fast ion population. Indeed, adding neutral beam injection into the FRC over past half-decade has contributed to striking improvements stability. Further, addition of electrically biased plasma guns at ends, end plugs, advanced...
Proton-boron (p11B) fusion is an attractive potential energy source but technically challenging to implement. Developing techniques realize its requires first developing the experimental capability produce p11B in magnetically-confined, thermonuclear plasma environment. Here we report clear measurements supported by simulation of with high-energy neutral beams and boron powder injection a high-temperature (the Large Helical Device) that have resulted diagnostically significant levels alpha...
A hot stable field-reversed configuration (FRC) has been produced in the C-2 experiment by colliding and merging two high-β plasmoids preformed dynamic version of θ-pinch technology. The process exhibits highest poloidal flux amplification obtained a magnetic confinement system (over tenfold increase). Most kinetic energy is converted into thermal with total temperature (T{i}+T{e}) exceeding 0.5 keV. final FRC state record lifetime approaching classical values. These findings should have...
TAE Technologies' research is devoted to producing high temperature, stable, long-lived field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas by neutral-beam injection (NBI) and edge biasing/control. The newly constructed C-2W experimental device (also called 'Norman') the world's largest compact-toroid (CT) device, which has several key upgrades from preceding C-2U such as higher input power longer pulse duration of NBI system well installation inner divertors with upgraded electrode biasing systems....
TAE Technologies, Inc. (TAE) is pursuing an alternative approach to magnetically confined fusion, which relies on field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas composed of mostly energetic and well-confined particles by means a state-of-the-art tunable energy neutral-beam (NB) injector system. TAE's current experimental device, C-2W (also called 'Norman'), the world's largest compact-toroid device has made significant progress in FRC performance, producing record breaking, high temperature...
Field reversed configurations (FRCs) with high confinement are obtained in the C-2 device by combining plasma gun edge biasing and neutral beam injection. The creates an inward radial electric field that counters usual FRC spin-up. n = 2 rotational instability is stabilized without applying quadrupole magnetic fields. FRCs nearly axisymmetric, which enables fast ion confinement. also produces E × B shear layer, may explain observed improved particle transport. times factors to 4, lifetimes...
Developing a stable plasma state with high-beta (ratio of to magnetic pressures) is critical importance for an economic fusion reactor. At the forefront this endeavour field-reversed configuration. Here we demonstrate kinetic stabilizing effect fast ions on disruptive magneto-hydrodynamic instability, known as tilt mode, which poses central obstacle further configuration development, by energetic beam injection. This technique, combined synergistic active boundary control, enables fully...
Tri Alpha Energy's experimental program has demonstrated reliable field-reversed configuration (FRC) formation and sustainment, driven by fast ions via high-power neutral-beam (NB) injection. The world's largest compact-toroid device, C-2U, was upgraded from C-2 with the following key system upgrades: increased total NB input power ~4 MW (20 keV hydrogen) to 10+ (15 tilted injection angle; enhanced edge-biasing capability inside of each end divertor for boundary/stability control. C-2U...
A high temperature field reversed configuration (FRC) has been produced in the newly built, world’s largest compact toroid (CT) facility, C-2, by colliding and merging two high-β CTs using advanced field-reversed θ-pinch technology. This long-lived, stable merged state exhibits following key properties: (1) apparent increase poloidal flux from first pass to final state, (2) significantly improved confinement compared conventional FRCs with decay rates approaching classical values some cases,...
Many fields of basic and applied science require efficiently exploring complex systems with high dimensionality. An example such a challenge is optimising the performance plasma fusion experiments. The highly-nonlinear temporally-varying interaction between plasma, its environment external controls presents considerable complexity in these A further difficulty arises from fact that there no single objective metric fully captures both quality equipment constraints. To optimise system, we...
Abstract An economic magnetic fusion reactor favours a high ratio of plasma kinetic pressure to in well-confined, hot with low thermal losses across the confining field. Field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas are potentially attractive as concept, achieving simple axisymmetric geometry. Here, we show that FRC have unique, beneficial microstability properties differ from typical regimes toroidal confinement devices. Ion-scale fluctuations found be absent or strongly suppressed core,...
Abstract Recently, experiments on basic plasma physics issues for solving future problems in fusion energy have been performed a Large Helical Device. There are several to be solved devices energy. Emerging burning are: alpha-channeling (ion heating by alpha particles), turbulence and transport electron dominant helium ash exhaust, reduction of the divertor heat load. To solve these problems, understanding (1) wave–particle interaction through (inverse) Landau damping, (2) characteristics...
Large field reversed configurations (FRCs) are produced in the C-2 device by combining dynamic formation and merging processes. The good confinement of these FRCs must be further improved to achieve sustainment with neutral beam (NB) injection pellet fuelling. A plasma gun is installed at one end attempt electric control FRC edge layer. inward radial counters usual spin-up mitigates n = 2 rotational instability without applying quadrupole magnetic fields. Better centering also obtained,...
Collisional merging formation of field-reversed configurations (FRCs) at super Alfvenic velocity have been successfully initiated in the FAT-CM device Nihon University. It is experimentally evidenced that quiescent FRC profile formed a self-organizational manner after distructive disturbances by collision two translated magnetized plasmoids. A drastic increase excluded flux compared to theta-pinch section has also observed. This process an important role realizing based high-beta reactor...
Abstract Self-organized field-reversed configuration (FRC)-like formation was observed after the super-sonic/Alfvénic collisional merging of two FRCs in FAT-CM device at Nihon University. In this experiment, were generated initially separate theta-pinch type regions. Those regions are coaxially connected to opposite ends a cylindrical confinement chamber. The formed oppositely-translated and collide middle chamber velocity. During collision, merged plasmoid experiences destructive...
A compact toroid (CT) injector was developed for the C-2 device, primarily refueling of field-reversed configurations. The CTs are formed by a magnetized coaxial plasma gun (MCPG), which consists cylindrical electrodes and bias coil creating magnetic field. First, ring is generated discharge between accelerated Lorenz self-force. Then, captured an interlinkage flux (poloidal flux). Finally, fully CT ejected from MCPG. MCPG described herein has two gas injection ports that arranged...
Abstract TAE Technologies’ fifth-generation fusion device, C-2W (also called ‘Norman’), is the world’s largest compact-toroid device and has made significant progress in field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma performance. produces record breaking, macroscopically stable, high-temperature advanced beam-driven FRC plasmas, dominated by injected fast particles sustained steady state, which primarily limited neutral-beam (NB) pulse duration. The NB power supply system recently been upgraded...
A six-channel two-color interferometer has been developed for plasma electron density measurements in the C-2 field reversed configuration experiment. CO(2) laser is utilized as main probe beams, while copropagating visible HeNe beams are mainly sensitive to vibration. Density plasmas have shown that this a reliable turn-key system. The maximum residual phase noise after vibration compensation less than ±5°, corresponding line integral of 3×10(18) m(-2). time resolution routine operation 2 μs.
A repetitively driven compact toroid (CT) injector has been developed for the large field-reversed configuration (FRC) facility of C-2/C-2U, primarily particle refueling. CT is formed and injected by a magnetized coaxial plasma gun (MCPG) exclusively C-2/C-2U FRC. To refuel particles long-lived FRCs, multiple injections are required. Thus, multi-stage discharge circuit was multi-pulsed injection. The drive frequency this system can be adjusted up to 1 kHz number shots per two; further...
A long-lived field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma has been produced in the C-2 device by dynamically colliding and merging two oppositely directed, highly supersonic compact toroids (CTs). The reversed-field structure of translated CTs final merged-FRC state have directly verified probing internal magnetic field using a multi-channel probe array near midplane confinement chamber. Each exhibits significant toroidal fields (B(t)) with opposite helicity, relatively large B(t) remains...
Field-reversed configuration (FRC) Amplification via Translation–Collisional Merging (FAT-CM) experiments have recently commenced to study physics phenomena of colliding and merged FRC plasma states. Two independently formed FRCs are translated into the confinement region FAT-CM device, collided near mid-plane device with a relative speed up ∼400 km/s, final state is achieved. To measure internal magnetic field profiles plasmas as well understand its collisional-merging process, an probe...
A two-chord far infrared (FIR) laser polarimeter for high speed sub-degree Faraday rotation measurements in the C-2 field reversed configuration experiment is described. It based on power proprietary FIR lasers with line width of about 330 Hz. The exceptionally low intrinsic instrument phase error characterized figures merit. Significant toroidal magnetic rich dynamics observed. Simultaneously obtained density fluctuation spectra by forward scattering are presented.
A versatile heterodyne Doppler Backscattering (DBS) system is used to measure density fluctuation levels (in the wavenumber range kρs ≤ 50), and toroidal E × B flow velocity in C-2 Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC). Six tunable frequencies three waveguide bands (26 GHz f 90 GHz) are launched using monostatic beam optics, via a quasi-optical combiner/polarizer an adjustable parabolic focusing mirror (inside vacuum enclosure) achieving Gaussian spot sizes of 3–5.5 cm at X/O-mode cutoff. The...
Abstract Aneutronic fusion using commonly available fuel such as hydrogen and boron 11 ( B) is one of the most attractive potential energy sources. On other hand, it requires 30 times higher temperature than deuterium–tritium in a thermonuclear reactor condition. Development techniques to realize its for experimental capability produce proton-boron (p- magnetically confined device neutral beam injection desired. Here we report clear exploration measurements p- B reactions supported by...