Feasibility Studies of Alpha-Channeling in Mirror Machines

摘要

The linear magnetic trap is an attractive concept both for fusion reactors and for other plasma applications due to its relative engineering simplicity and high-beta operation. Applying the a-channeling technique to linear traps, such as mirror machines, can benefit this concept by efficiently redirecting a particle energy to fuel ion heating or by otherwise sustaining plasma confinement, thus increasing the effective fusion reactivity. To identify waves suitable for a-channeling a rough optimization of the energy extraction rate with respect to the wave parameters is performed. After the optimal regime is identified, a systematic search for modes with similar parameters in mirror plasmas is performed, assuming quasi-longitudinal or quasi-transverse wave propagation. Several modes suitable for a particle energy extraction are identified for both reactor designs and for proof-of-principle experiments.