M. Yamasaki

Improved beta (local beta >1) and density in electron cyclotron resonance heating on the RT-1 magnetosphere plasma

This study reports the recent progress in improved plasma parameters of the RT-1 device. Increased input power and the optimized polarization of electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) with an 8.2 GHz klystron produce a significant increase in electron beta, which is evaluated by an equilibrium analysis of the Grad–Shafranov equation. The peak value of the local electron beta βe is found to exceed 1. In the high-beta and high-density regime, the density limit is observed for H, D and He plasmas. The line-averaged density is close to the cutoff density for 8.2 GHz ECRH. When the filling gas pressure is increased, the density limit still exists even in the low-beta region. This result indicates that the density limit is caused by the cutoff density rather than the beta limit. From the analysis of interferometer data, we found that inward diffusion causes a peaked density profile beyond the cutoff density.

Observation of a new high-β and high-density state of a magnetospheric plasma in RT-1

A new high-β and high-density state is reported for a plasma confined in a laboratory magnetosphere. In order to expand the parameter regime of an electron cyclotron resonance heating experiment, the 8.2 GHz microwave power of the Ring Trap 1 device has been upgraded with the installation of a new waveguide system. The rated input power launched from a klystron was increased from 25 to 50 kW, which enabled the more stable formation of a hot-electron high-β plasma. The diamagnetic signal (the averaged value of four magnetic loops signals) of a plasma reached 5.2 mWb. According to a two-dimensional Grad-Shafranov analysis, the corresponding local β value is close to 100%.

Measurement of a density profile of a hot-electron plasma in RT-1 with three-chord interferometry

The electron density profile of a plasma in a magnetospheric dipole field configuration was measured with a multi-chord interferometry including a relativistic correction. In order to improve the accuracy of density reconstruction, a 75 GHz interferometer was installed at a vertical chord of the Ring Trap 1 (RT-1) device in addition to previously installed ones at tangential and another vertical chords. The density profile was calculated by using the data of three-chord interferometry including relativistic effects for a plasma consisting of hot and cold electrons generated by electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECH). The results clearly showed the effects of density peaking and magnetic mirror trapping in a strongly inhomogeneous dipole magnetic field.

Anisotropy in Broad Component of Hα Line in the Magnetospheric Device RT-1

Temperature anisotropy in broad component of H

Electro-optic probe measurements of electric fields in plasmas

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Ion cyclotron heating experiments in magnetosphere plasma device RT-1

line was found in the ring trap 1 (RT-1) device by Doppler spectroscopy. Since hot hydrogen neutrals emitting a broad component are mainly produced by charge exchange between neutrals and protons, the anisotropy in the broad component is the evidence of proton temperature anisotropy generated by betatron acceleration.

Observation of particle acceleration in laboratory magnetosphere

The direct measurements of high-frequency electric fields in a plasma bring about significant advances in the physics and engineering of various waves. We have developed an electro-optic sensor system based on the Pockels effect. Since the signal is transmitted through an optical fiber, the system has high tolerance for electromagnetic noises. To demonstrate its applicability to plasma experiments, we report the first result of measurement of the ion-cyclotron wave excited in the RT-1 magnetosphere device. This study compares the results of experimental field measurements with simulation results of electric fields in plasmas.

Ion cyclotron resonance heating system in the RT-1 magnetospheric plasma

The ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) heating with 3 MHz and ∼10 kW is being prepared in RT-1. The operation regime for electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heating is surveyed as the target plasmas. ECRH with 8.2 GHz and ∼50 kW produces the plasmas with high energy electrons in the range of a few ten keV, but the ions still remain cold at a few ten eV. Ion heating is expected to access high ion beta state and to change the aspect of plasma confinement theoretically. The ICRF heating is applied to the target plasma as an auxiliary heating. The preliminary result of ICRF heating is reported.