Plasma Fueling, Heating, and Neutrality Control Using Magnetic Plasma Expulsion

Plasma fueling, heating, and neutrality control using particle sources located inside of a magnetically confined plasma is simulated by computer. Magnetic plasma expulsion [R. E. Phillips, C. A. Ordonez, Phys. Plasmas 25 (2018) 012508] is used to keep the magnetically confined plasma away from the particle sources. The research aims to show how particles can be injected into a plasma using particle sources located directly between two current-carrying wires that create the magnetic expulsion field. Three different cases are considered. (1) Plasma fueling. For this case, the average energy of injected particles is the same as the average energy of plasma particles, so that no heating occurs. Also, positive and negative particles are injected simultaneously at equal rates, so that no change in neutrality occurs. (2) Plasma heating. This case is different from the first in that the average energy of injected particles is larger than the average energy of plasma particles. (3) Plasma neutrality control. This case is different from the first in that positive and negative particles are injected at different rates.