Remi Lefrancois

Diagnosing pure-electron plasmas with internal particle flux probes

Techniques for measuring local plasma potential, density, and temperature of pure-electron plasmas using emissive and Langmuir probes are described. The plasma potential is measured as the least negative potential at which a hot tungsten filament emits electrons. Temperature is measured, as is commonly done in quasineutral plasmas, through the interpretation of a Langmuir probe current-voltage characteristic. Due to the lack of ion-saturation current, the density must also be measured through the interpretation of this characteristic thereby greatly complicating the measurement. Measurements are further complicated by low densities, low cross field transport rates, and large flows typical of pure-electron plasmas. This article describes the use of these techniques on pure-electron plasmas in the Columbia Non-neutral Torus (CNT) stellarator. Measured values for present baseline experimental parameters in CNT are phi(p)=-200+/-2 V, T(e)=4+/-1 eV, and n(e) on the order of 10(12) m(-3) in the interior.

Experimental demonstration of a compact stellarator magnetic trap using four circular coils

An experimental demonstration of a compact stellarator magnetic trap created from four circular coils is presented. The coil manufacturing and assembly tolerances were on the order of 0.5–1%, far less stringent than most other stellarators. The simplicity, loose mechanical tolerances, and low cost of the trap design makes it feasible for stellarators to be used for a variety of novel physics experiments, in addition to their present use for magnetic confinement fusion. The experiment, the Columbia Non-neutral Torus, has several other desirable features such as no significant internal island chains and the lowest aspect ratio, A⩽1.9, of any stellarator built to date.

Numerical investigation of three-dimensional single-species plasma equilibria on magnetic surfaces

Presented for the first time are numerical solutions to the three-dimensional nonlinear equilibrium equation for single-species plasmas confined on magnetic surfaces and surrounded by an equipotential boundary. The major-radial shift of such plasmas is found to be outward, qualitatively similar to the Shafranov shift of quasineutral plasmas confined on magnetic surfaces. However, this is the opposite of what occurs in the pure toroidal field equilibria of non-neutral plasmas (i.e., in the absence of magnetic surfaces). The effect of varying the number of Debye lengths in the plasma for the three-dimensional (3D) model is in agreement with previous 2D calculations: the potential varies significantly on magnetic surfaces for plasmas with few Debye lengths (a≲λd), and tends to be constant on surfaces when many Debye lengths are present (a≳10λd). For the case of a conducting boundary that does not conform to the outer magnetic surface, the plasma is shifted towards the conductor and the potential varies signi...

CONSTRUCTION AND INITIAL OPERATION OF THE COLUMBIA NONNEUTRAL TORUS

Abstract We report on the results from initial testing and operation of the Columbia Nonneutral Torus, a new stellarator experiment constructed at Columbia University to study the confinement of nonneutral plasmas, electron-positron plasmas, and stellarator confinement in the presence of strong electrostatic fields. A new algorithm for automatic identification of good magnetic surfaces, island chains, and stochastic regions in Poincaré maps is also described. We present some of the details of the design of the interlocked in-vessel coils and the vacuum system and report on initial vacuum performance. Magnetic surface mapping and visualization results are also presented, confirming the existence of ultralow aspect ratio magnetic surfaces with excellent quality and good agreement with numerical calculations.

Confinement of pure electron plasmas in the Columbia Non-neutral Torus

The Columbia Non-neutral Torus (CNT) [T. S. Pedersen, J. P. Kremer, R. G. Lefrancois, Q. Marksteiner, N. Pomphrey, W. Reiersen, F. Dahlgreen, and X. Sarasola, Fusion Sci. Technol. 50, 372 (2006)] is a stellarator used to study non-neutral plasmas confined on magnetic surfaces. A detailed experimental study of confinement of pure electron plasmas in CNT is described here. Electrons are introduced into the magnetic surfaces by placing a biased thermionic emitter on the magnetic axis. As reported previously, the insulated rods holding this and other emitter filaments contribute to the radial transport by charging up negatively and creating E×B convective transport cells. A model for the rod-driven transport is presented and compared to the measured transport rates under a number of different conditions, finding good agreement. Neutrals also drive transport, and by varying the neutral pressure in the experiment, the effects of rod-driven and neutral-driven transport are separated. The neutral-driven electron ...

THE COLUMBIA NONNEUTRAL TORUS: A NEW EXPERIMENT TO CONFINE NONNEUTRAL AND POSITRON-ELECTRON PLASMAS IN A STELLARATOR

Abstract The Columbia Nonneutral Torus is a new stellarator experiment being built at Columbia University, New York, to study the confinement of nonneutral and electron-positron plasmas. It will be a two-period, ultralow aspect ratio classical stellarator configuration created from four circular coils. The theory of the confinement and transport of pure electron plasmas on magnetic surfaces is reviewed. The guiding principles behind the experimental design are presented, together with the actual experimental design configuration.

Confinement of plasmas of arbitrary neutrality in a stellarator

The equilibrium, stability, and transport of pure electron plasmas confined on magnetic surfaces is reviewed. The prospects for creation of partly neutralized plasmas and electron–positron plasmas confined in a stellarator are discussed. The Columbia Non-neutral Torus, a small ultrahigh vacuum stellarator being constructed at Columbia University, is being built to systematically study non-neutral plasmas confined on magnetic surfaces. The experimental design is discussed in the context of relevant physics parameters, and the initial experimental plans for creation and diagnosis of pure electron plasmas are discussed.

Large density variation predicted along the magnetic axis for cold electron plasmas in the Columbia Nonneutral Torus (CNT)

Cold pure electron plasmas confined in Penning-Malmberg traps with mirror fields are known to exhibit density variations along field lines, such that the density is roughly proportional to the magnetic field strength, n∼B. The Columbia Nonneutral Torus (CNT) is the first stellarator designed to study pure electron plasmas, and exhibits substantial mirroring, with Bmax≈1.8Bmin. However, results of a three-dimensional equilibrium solver, presented in this Letter, predict a factor of 5.3 increase in density from the minimum-field cross section to the maximum-field cross section along the magnetic axis, for a 1.5cm Debye length plasma (a≈15cm for CNT). In this Letter, it is shown that the density variation of electron plasmas in mirror traps can be significantly enhanced in a device that has a cross section that varies from cylinder-like to slab-like, such as the CNT. A simple analytic expression is derived that describes the axial density variation in such a device, and it is found to agree well with the com...

First Studies of Pure Electron Plasmas in the Columbia Non‐neutral Torus

The first studies of pure electron plasmas confined on magnetic surfaces in the Columbia Non‐neutral Torus are overviewed. The electron plasma is created by a thermionic emitter filament and similar filaments mounted on ceramic rods are used as Langmuir and emissive probes. The equilibrium density, temperature and potential profiles are experimentally measured. Numerical calculations of the equilibrium agree well with measurements and also predict a toroidal density variation of a factor of four. The confinement time is found to decrease with increased neutral pressure and emitter bias voltage, and it is presently limited to 20 ms by the insulated emitter and probe rods. A retractable electron emitter and external diagnostics will be used to determine the confinement time in the absence of rods. Ion driven instabilities are observed at high neutral pressure and low magnetic field strength. Further research of these instabilities will be carried out.

Studies Of Enhanced Confinement In The Columbia Non‐Neutral Torus

Recently the measured confinement time in the Columbia Non‐neutral Torus (CNT) has been increased by nearly an order of magnitude to 190 ms. Previously, enhanced transport caused in part by the mismatch of constant potential and magnetic surfaces limited confinement times to 20 ms. A conducting boundary conforming to the last closed magnetic flux surface has been installed to minimize potential variation along magnetic surfaces, provide new methods to influence the plasma, and act as an external diagnostic. A summary of new results with the conducting boundary installed will be presented, including discussion of how confinement is influenced by neutral pressure, magnetic field strength, and the effect of biasing individual sectors of the mesh.