Plasma production and heating in a tandem mirror central cell by radio-frequency waves in the ion cyclotron frequency range

Plasma production and heating in the central cell of the Tara tandem mirror [Nucl. Fusion 22, 549 (1982); Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, 1986, Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Kyoto, Japan (IAEA, Vienna, 1987), Vol. 2, p. 251] have been studied. Using radio-frequency excitation by a slot antenna in the ion cyclotron frequency range (ICRF), plasmas with a peak β⊥ of 3%, density of 4×1012 cm−3, ion temperature of 800 eV, and electron temperature of 75–100 eV were routinely produced. The plasma radius decreased with increasing ICRF power, causing reduced ICRF coupling and saturation of the plasma beta. About 70% of the applied ICRF power can be accounted for in direct heating of both ions and electrons. Wave field measurements have identified the applied ICRF to be the slow, ion cyclotron wave. In operation without end plugging, the plasma parameters were limited by poor axial confinement and the requirements for maintenance of magnetohydrodynamic stability and microstability.