TY - JOUR

T1 - Gas dynamic trap

T2 - Experimental results and future prospects

AU - Ivanov, A. A.

AU - Prikhodko, V. V.

PY - 2017/5

Y1 - 2017/5

N2 - The gas dynamic trap (GDT) is a version of a magnetic mirror with a long mirror-to-mirror distance far exceeding the effective mean free path of ion scattering into the loss cone, with a large mirror ratio (R ~ 100; R = Bmax=Bminis the ratio of magnetic field inductions at the mirror and at the trap center) and with axial symmetry. Under these conditions, in contrast to a conventional magnetic mirror, the plasma confined in a GDT is isotropic and Maxwellian. The plasma loss rate through the ends is governed by a set of simple gas dynamic equations; hence, the name of the device. The plasma lifetime in a GDT is on the order of LR=VTi, where L is the mirror-to-mirror distance, and VTi is the ion thermal velocity. Thus, increasing both the length of the device and the mirror ratio can, in principle, make the plasma lifetime sufficient for fusion applications. This paper discusses plasma confinement and heating results from the Novosibirsk GDT facility and examines prospects for using GDTs to develop a high-flux volumetric neutron source for fusion material testing and for driving subcritical fission reactors.

AB - The gas dynamic trap (GDT) is a version of a magnetic mirror with a long mirror-to-mirror distance far exceeding the effective mean free path of ion scattering into the loss cone, with a large mirror ratio (R ~ 100; R = Bmax=Bminis the ratio of magnetic field inductions at the mirror and at the trap center) and with axial symmetry. Under these conditions, in contrast to a conventional magnetic mirror, the plasma confined in a GDT is isotropic and Maxwellian. The plasma loss rate through the ends is governed by a set of simple gas dynamic equations; hence, the name of the device. The plasma lifetime in a GDT is on the order of LR=VTi, where L is the mirror-to-mirror distance, and VTi is the ion thermal velocity. Thus, increasing both the length of the device and the mirror ratio can, in principle, make the plasma lifetime sufficient for fusion applications. This paper discusses plasma confinement and heating results from the Novosibirsk GDT facility and examines prospects for using GDTs to develop a high-flux volumetric neutron source for fusion material testing and for driving subcritical fission reactors.

KW - Fusion neutron source

KW - Gas dynamic trap

KW - Magnetic mirror

KW - NEUTRAL-BEAM INJECTION

KW - PLASMA CONTAINMENT

KW - GDT FACILITY

KW - DRIVEN FLUTE INSTABILITY

KW - fusion neutron source

KW - gas dynamic trap

KW - MACROSCOPIC STABILITY

KW - magnetic mirror

KW - CONFINED PLASMA

KW - ION-CYCLOTRON INSTABILITY

KW - MAGNETIC-FIELD

KW - AXISYMMETRICAL MIRROR

KW - TANDEM-MIRROR

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85026913799&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3367/UFNe.2016.09.037967

DO - 10.3367/UFNe.2016.09.037967

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85026913799

VL - 60

SP - 509

EP - 533

JO - Physics-Uspekhi

JF - Physics-Uspekhi

SN - 1063-7869

IS - 5

ER -