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Stabilized Spheromak Fusion Reactors
T. K. Fowler
April 16, 2007
Abstract
The U.S. fusion energy program is focused on research with the potential for
studying plasmas at thermonuclear temperatures, currently epitomized by the tokamak-
based International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) but also continuing
exploratory work on other plasma confinement concepts. Among the latter is the
spheromak pursued on the SSPX facility at LLNL. Experiments in SSPX using
electrostatic current drive by coaxial guns have now demonstrated stable spheromaks
with good heat confinement, if the plasma is maintained near a Taylor state, but the
anticipated high current amplification by gun injection has not yet been achieved. In
future experiments and reactors, creating and maintaining a stable spheromak
configuration at high magnetic field strength may require auxiliary current drive using
neutral beams or RF power. Here we show that neutral beam current drive soon to be
explored on SSPX could yield a compact spheromak reactor with current drive efficiency
comparable to that of steady state tokamaks. Thus, while more will be learned about
electrostatic current drive in coming months, results already achieved in SSPX could
point to a productive parallel development path pursuing auxiliary current drive,
consistent with plans to install neutral beams on SSPX in the near future. Among possible
outcomes, spheromak research could also yield pulsed fusion reactors at lower capital
cost than any fusion concept yet proposed.
1. Introduction
Experiments utilizing coaxial gun injection in the SSPX facility at LLNL have
produced small spheromaks with toroidal-like confinement at temperatures up to 500 eV
[1]. Good confinement occurs inside a boundary called the separatrix that separates
nominally closed magnetic flux surfaces from an open line flux core connected to the
gun. For the stable configuration achieved thus far, the magnetic field inside the
separatrix resembles the relaxed state predicted by Taylor [2]. As clarified by NIMROD
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Fowler, T. Stabilized Spheromak Fusion Reactors, report, April 3, 2007; Livermore, California. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc883105/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.