Achieving a long-lived high-beta plasma state by energetic beam injection

作者：Guo H Y^*; Binderbauer M W; Tajima T; Milroy R D; Steinhauer L C; Yang X; Garate E G; Gota H; Korepanov S; Necas A; Roche T; Smirnov A; Trask E

来源：Nature Communications, 2015, 6(1): 6897.

DOI：10.1038/ncomms7897

Developing a stable plasma state with high-beta (ratio of plasma to magnetic pressures) is of critical importance for an economic magnetic fusion reactor. At the forefront of this endeavour is the field-reversed configuration. Here we demonstrate the kinetic stabilizing effect of fast ions on a disruptive magneto-hydrodynamic instability, known as a tilt mode, which poses a central obstacle to further field-reversed configuration development, by energetic beam injection. This technique, combined with the synergistic effect of active plasma boundary control, enables a fully stable ultra-high-beta (approaching 100%) plasma with a long lifetime.

• 出版日期2015-4