Magnetohydrodynamic transport characterization of a field reversed configuration

Abstract

The transport phenomenon of a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) is studied using the newly developed two-dimensional code Q2D, which couples a magnetohydrodynamic code with a Monte Carlo code for the beam component. The simulation by Q2D of the transport parallel to the simple open θ-pinch fields and its associated outflow phenomenon shows an excellent agreement with one of the leading theories, elevating the Q2D validity and simultaneously deepening the theoretical understanding of this fundamental process. We find a sharp distinction between the evolved radial density profiles of the FRC and mirror plasmas as a result of the transport processes, underpinning the crucial role of the closed flux surfaces of the FRC to enhance the confinement over that of the mirror. We characterize the scrap-off layer (SOL) transport by including the mirror trapping effects, and we find a relationship between the confinement time in the SOL and the ion collisional time. The Q2D code further illuminates the basic transport properties of the divertor region and the formation of an electrostatic potential in the divertor.