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Overview of the Maryland Centrifugal Experiment(MCX)

Author: Richard F. Ellis
Requested Type: Poster Only
Submitted: 2009-12-04 09:17:49

Co-authors: A. B. Hassam, R. Reid, C. Romero-Talamas, C. Teodorescu, W. C. Young, M.R. Clary, R. Elton

Contact Info:
University of Maryland
Energy Research Facility
College Park, MD   20742
USA

Abstract Text:
The Maryland Centrifugal Experiment(MCX) produces supersonically rotating plasmas in a mirror geometry with a radial electric field produced by a coaxial core biased at high voltage. MCX has achieved high density (n>10**20 m-3) fully ionized plasmas rotating supersonically with velocities of ~100 km/sec for times exceeding 8 ms under a wide range of conditions. An overview of the Maryland Centrifugal Experiment (MCX) and recent results are described. Major new results include: a) IR interferometers at two axial locations and an axial array of diamagnetic loops demonstrate centrifugal confinement at higher mirror ratio; b) diamagnetic loop and magnetic pickup coil data are compared to an MHD equilibrium model; c) an extensive study of the maximum rotational velocity shows it is limited from above by the Alfven velocity and the critical ionization velocity(CIV) ; e) a multi chord Halpha array has measured the radial profiles of neutral hydrogen which are dominated by neutrals at the edge and are hollow at plasma center . Efforts to measure impurity concentrations will also be described. We have now achieved our three main goals a) supersonic rotation; b) sheared profiles of rotation velocity suitable for MHD stability; c) centrifugal confinement. Upgrade plans include a central vessel of 1m diameter, new larger and higher field magnets for the center region, and a discharge capacitor bank of 40kV.
Work supported by USDOE.

Characterization: C,E1

Comments:
please place next to any other MCX posters