Michl Binderbauer
A5017286945- Magnetic confinement fusion research
- Particle accelerators and beam dynamics
- Plasma Diagnostics and Applications
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- Fusion materials and technologies
- Superconducting Materials and Applications
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineering
- Pulsed Power Technology Applications
- Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena
- Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers
- Non-Destructive Testing Techniques
- Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Graphite, nuclear technology, radiation studies
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Fault Detection and Control Systems
- Electrostatic Discharge in Electronics
- Advanced Electrical Measurement Techniques
- Engineering and Test Systems
- Parallel Computing and Optimization Techniques
- Crystallography and Radiation Phenomena
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
2025
Tri Alpha Energy (United States)
2014-2024
University of Surrey
2020
Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias
2020
University of California, Irvine
1994-2004
University of Florida
1997
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...
Recent results with Tokamak experiments provide insights into the problem of magnetic confinement. They demonstrate how to avoid anomalous transport and thus solve major problems reactors: size, production 14-megaelectron volt neutrons, maintenance. An alternate confinement system, field-reversed configuration, confines beams protons boron-11. For proton–boron-11 fusion reaction, products are all charged particles for which direct conversion is feasible neutron flux negligible.
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,...
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 1000 keV, 5 MW, s neutral beam injector based on negative ions is being developed in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk collaboration with Tri Alpha Energy, Inc. The innovative design features spatially separated ion source and an electrostatic accelerator. Plasma or photon neutralizer energy recuperation remaining species employed to provide overall efficiency system as high 80%. test stand for acceleration now under construction. prototype has been fabricated installed...
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...
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 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...
Following the recent remarkable progress in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability control C-2U advanced beam driven field-reversed configuration (FRC), turbulent transport has become one of foremost obstacles on path towards an FRC-based fusion reactor. Significant effort been made to expand kinetic simulation capabilities FRC magnetic geometry. The recently upgraded Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code (GTC) now accommodates realistic geometry from experiment at Tri Alpha Energy, Inc. and is optimized...