Systems and methods for radial and axial stability control of an FRC plasma
AssigneeTae Technologies, Inc.
InventorJesus Antonio Romero Gonzalez
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided that facilitate stability of an FRC plasma in both radial and axial directions and axial position control of an FRC plasma along the symmetry axis of an FRC plasma chamber. The systems and methods exploit an axially unstable equilibria of the FRC plasma to enforce radial stability, while stabilizing or controlling the axial instability. The systems and methods provide feedback control of the FRC plasma axial position independent of the stability properties of the plasma equilibrium by acting on the voltages applied to a set of external coils concentric with the plasma and using a non-linear control technique.
Claims19
A method for stabilizing a field reversed configuration (FRC) plasma within a confinement chamber, comprising the steps of:
- tuning an applied magnetic field generated within the chamber by symmetric current components extending about the confinement chamber to induce stability in the FRC plasma in a radial direction normal to a longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber wherein the FRC plasma is positioned axisymmetric about the longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber;
- generating first and second radial magnetic fields to counteract an instability occurring in the FRC plasma in an axial direction along the longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber as a result of inducing stability in the FRC plasma in the radial direction;
- and
- generating the first and second radial magnetic fields by adjusting first and second radial coils to interact with an FRC magnetic field positioned about the FRC plasma to induce stability in the FRC plasma in the axial direction along the longitudinal axis of the confinement chamber to position the FRC plasma symmetric about the mid-plane,
- wherein the first and second radial magnetic fields are antisymmetric about the mid-plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.