MULTIPOLE PINCH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AVERAGE MAGNETIC WELL IN PLASMA CONFINEMENT

摘要

MULTIPOLE PINCH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINGAVERAGE MAGNETIC WELL IN PLASMA CONFINEMENTABSTRACTA multipole plasma pinch method and appara-tus produces hot magnetically confined z-pinch plasmawith a plurality of z-pinch current channels arrangedso as to generate a multipolar magnetic field andat least one hyperbolic magnetic axis within the plasmaspace roughly enclosed by the channels, forming there-by a region of average magnetic well in a region ofnested closed plasma magnetic surfaces surroundingthe plasma current channels, when the magnetic fieldcomponent in the direction of the hyperbolic axis isalso made to be substantially zero in the vicinityof the hyperbolic axis. The multipole pinch inven-tion may be operated so that q and field reversaltake place within the plasma, and the plasma so pro-duced closely approximates known theoretical stabilityconditions. The well-producing hyperbolic axis ofthe present invention is produced effectively byreplacing the solid conducting rings of prior artmultipole plasma confinement devices by z-pinch-liketoroidal current channel loops of plasma. The plasmais formed inside a vacuum chamber and an electricallyconducting shaping shell assembly, whose noncircularpoloidal cross section imparts the desired shape tothe plasma. The shape of the plasma may be maintainedand/or adjusted by means of electrical currentsdriven through appropriately distributed externalconductors.