A5083240856- Magnetic confinement fusion research
- Plasma Diagnostics and Applications
- Particle accelerators and beam dynamics
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- Fusion materials and technologies
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Superconducting Materials and Applications
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineering
- Nuclear Materials and Properties
- Advanced NMR Techniques and Applications
- Electrostatic Discharge in Electronics
- Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Nuclear Engineering Thermal-Hydraulics
- Magnetic Field Sensors Techniques
- Integrated Circuits and Semiconductor Failure Analysis
- Silicon and Solar Cell Technologies
- Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications
- Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena
- Green IT and Sustainability
- Aerospace Engineering and Control Systems
- Flow Measurement and Analysis
- Optical Systems and Laser Technology
Tri Alpha Energy (United States)
2015-2025
University of California, Irvine
2008-2014
RELX Group (United Kingdom)
2004
University of Pennsylvania
2004
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...
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...
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...
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 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 compact high-sensitivity second-harmonic interferometer for line-integrated electron density measurements on a large plasma machine is presented. The device based fiber coupled near-infrared continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser and remotely controlled. performances of the instrument are tested Irvine field-reversed configuration machine, sensitivity few 1014 cm−2 in measuring line integrated demonstrated with time resolution microseconds. self calibrated, has an impressive stability, it does not...
Active control of field reversed configuration (FRC) devices requires a method to determine the flux surface geometry and dynamic properties plasma during both transient steady-state conditions. The current tomography (CT) uses Bayesian inference density distribution using information from magnetic measurements physics model in prior. Here we show that, inferred sources, FRC topology its axial stability are readily obtained. When Gaussian process priors used forward is linear, CT solution...
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...
Rapid magnetic reconnection was experimentally observed to occur within a microsecond timescale, leading the field-reversed configuration (FRC) comprising single closed field structure. The compressibility of plasma FRC played crucial role in accelerating coalescence process, making it considerably faster than resistive process. A strong similarity between experimental results and those solar flare loops indicates that astrophysical phenomena laboratory plasmas are governed by common physics.
The radial profiles, n(r), Bz(r), and Er(r), for a Flux-Coil ("inductively driven"), Field-Reversed Configuration (FC-FRC) are measured compared to the predictions of Rigid-Rotor Model (RRM), which is an analytic, one-dimensional, time-independent, equilibrium description FRC. Injectors mounted on both ends confinement vessel provide pre-fill plasma. Coaxial coils outside vacuum boundaries annular-confinement accelerate plasma produce density profile by laser interferometry, magnetic-field...
Views Icon Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Twitter Facebook Reddit LinkedIn Tools Reprints and Permissions Cite Search Site Citation W. S. Harris, E. Trask, T. Roche, P. Garate, Heidbrink, R. McWilliams; Ion flow measurements plasma current analysis in the Irvine Field Reversed Configuration. Physics of Plasmas 1 November 2009; 16 (11): 112509. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3265961 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib...
External flux conserving coils were installed onto the exterior of C-2U [M. W. Binderbauer et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 056110 (2015)] confinement vessel to increase time system. The 0.5 in. stainless steel wall has a skin ∼5 ms. addition external copper effectively increases this ∼7 This led better-confined/longer-lived field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas. fringing fields generated by have side effect rendering field measurements invalid. Such key previous method excluded calculation C....
A fundamental component of any magnetically confined fusion experiment is a firm understanding the magnetic field. The increased complexity C-2W machine warrants an equally enhanced diagnostic capability. outfitted with over 700 field probes various types. They are both internal and external to vacuum vessel. Inside, linear array innovative in-vacuum annular flux loop/B-dot combination provide information about plasma shape, size, pressure, energy, temperature, trapped when coupled...
In the current experimental device of TAE Technologies, C-2W (also called “Norman”), record breaking advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas are produced and sustained in steady state utilizing variable energy neutral beams (15–40 keV, total power up to 20 MW), divertors, bias electrodes, an active plasma control system. This fully operational experiment is coupled with a suite diagnostic systems. The consists 60+ individual systems spanning categories, including...
A two-chord λIR∼3.39 μm He–Ne laser interferometer system was developed for a flux-coil-generated field-reversed configuration to estimate the electron density and total temperature of (FRC) plasma. This heterodyne consists single ∼2 mW infrared laser, visible (λvis∼632.8 nm) alignment, 40 MHz acousto-optic modulator, photodetectors, quadrature phase detectors. Initial measurement performed measured average densities were 2–10×1019 m−3 at two different radial positions in midplane. time...
One aim of the flux-coil generated field reversed configuration at Tri Alpha Energy (TAE) is to establish plasma where ion rotational energy greater than thermal energy. To verify this, an optical diagnostic was developed simultaneously measure Doppler velocity-shift and line-broadening using a 0.75 m, 1800 groves/mm, spectrometer. The output spectrum magnified imaged onto 16-channel photomultiplier tube (PMT) array. individual PMT outputs are coupled high-gain, high-frequency,...
We have developed a compact toroid (CT) injector system for particle refueling of the advanced beam-driven C-2U field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma. The CT is magnetized coaxial plasma gun (MCPG), and produced must cross perpendicular magnetic field surrounding FRC C-2U. To simulate this environment, an experimental test stand has been constructed. A transverse ∼1 kG established, which comparable to axial in confinement section, CTs are fired across it. On we characterizing studying...
C-2 is a unique, large compact-toroid (CT) device at Tri Alpha Energy that produces field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas by colliding and merging oppositely directed CTs. Significant progress has recently been made on C-2, achieving ~5 ms stable with dramatic improvement in confinement, far beyond the prediction from conventional FRC scaling. This stable, long-lived plasma state called high-performance (HPF) regime. The key approaches to achieve HPF regime are as follows: (i) dynamic...