High-Temperature, High-Density Plasma Production by Vortex-Ring Compression

Abstract

The TRISO PS III machine at the University of Miami has been modified by improving the preionization of the plasma and increasing the ring frequency of the conical $\theta$-pinch coils. The secondary magnetic compression field has been increased to 120 000 G at the conjugate points of the mirror. It has been possible, with this modified machine, TRISO PS IV, to obtain ion temperatures of 5 keV with corresponding electron temperature of less than 300 eV. The electron density was 2×${10}^{17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{-3\mathrm{}}$. This plasma was held in stable equilibrium for 5 μsec.