Loss-cone instabilities for compact fusion reactor and field-reversed configuration

Abstract

Loss-cone instabilities are studied for linear fusion devices. The gyro-kinetic equation for such a configuration is rigorously constructed in terms of action-angle variables by making use of canonical transformation. The dispersion relation, including for the first time, finite bounce frequency is obtained and numerically solved. The loss-cone modes are found near ion-cyclotron frequency. The growth rates are greatly reduced and approaching zero with increasing beta value. The results suggest that loss-cone instabilities are unlikely to be threatening to linear fusion devices since a new longitudinal invariant is found and gives a constraint which helps confinement.