Rotating magnetic quadrupole current drive for field-reversed configurations

Abstract

In the translation, confinement, and sustainment experiment [A. L. Hoffman, H. Y. Guo, J. T. Slough, S. J. Tobin, L. S. Schrank, W. A. Reass, and G. A. Wurden, Fusion Sci. Technol. 41, 92 (2002)], field-reversed configurations (FRCs) are created and sustained using a rotating magnetic field (RMF). The RMF is usually in the form of a rotating dipole, which in vacuum penetrates uniformly to the axis of symmetry. However, plasma conditions in the FRC normally adjust so that the RMF only partially penetrates the plasma column. We have investigated the possibility of using a rotating quadrupole rather than a rotating dipole magnetic field. The vacuum field from a quadrupole is proportional to radius and cannot penetrate to the axis of symmetry; however, this is not a disadvantage if the current drive is confined to the outer region of the FRC. It was found that the quadrupole drive efficiency is comparable to that of a dipole, but the rotating dipole is more effective at stabilizing the n=2 rotational instability. A strong internal oscillation in Bθ is often observed in FRCs sustained by a quadrupole field. The spectral content of the signals indicates that an internal n=1 magnetic structure forms and corotates with the electrons. Similar but much lower amplitude structures can form when a rotating dipole is employed (edge-driven mode).