One-and-a-quarter-dimensional transport modeling of the field-reversed configuration

Abstract

A radial time-dependent plasma transport code to be used for numerically modeling field-reversed configurations is described. The plasma model assumes two-fluid magnetohydrodynamics and includes a description of plasma on both the closed and open magnetic field lines, as well as such physics effects as axial contraction of the separatrix, flux surface averaging, and particle and energy losses along the open magnetic field lines. This code was applied to two typical discharges (5 and 20 mTorr initial fill pressures) of the FRX-C field-reversed configuration[Fusion Tech. 9, 13 (1986); Phys. Fluids 27, 1514 (1984)] experiment at Los Alamos. Simulation results and values of the transport coefficients are reported.