New Linked Mirrors

Abstract

The conceptual project APEX (Adapted Plasma Experiment) is discussed. The APEX objective is the development of a physical foundations for the CW fusion reactor, created on a base of an alternative type of magnetic trap, which could provide a “tokamak scale” confinement time at much higher β. Linked mirrors are the prototypes of this heading. The main idea of DRACON trap – the short circuit secondary plasma currents inside the curve elements (CE) – is kept. The new principle of poloidal pseudosymmetry and the non-traditional scheme of MHD plasma stabilization by “magnetic hump” give a possibility of a new approach to reduce plasma losses.The APEX concept provides for the Experimental Pseudo SYmmetric Linked trap (EPSYLON) design. The whole installation will be have two axisymmetric mirror parts (OME) closed with two CEs. Each OME contains the diverter. CE should have a strongly rippled magnetic field. As far as each OME and each CE is a trap with mirror confinement it is possible to start an investigation of the system from separate experiments with different parts of the whole system. The EPSYLON construction will be adapted to the experimental results. The experiment with OME is chosen now as the first step of the program. The main objective of this first experiment is the investigation of the “magnetic hump” MHD stabilization produced by divertor. EPSILON-OME installation is discussed. The closed system calculations are going in parallel.