Overview of C-2W Field-Reversed Configuration Experimental Program

TAE Technologies’ research is devoted to producing high temperature, stable, long-lived field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas by neutral-beam injection (NBI) and edge biasing/control. The newly constructed C-2W experimental device (also called “Norman”) is the world’s largest compact-toroid device andhas the following key upgrades from the preceding C-2U device [1]: (i) higher injected power, optimum energies, and extended pulse duration of the NBI system; (ii) installation of inner divertors with upgraded edge-biasing systems; (iii) fast external equilibrium/mirror-coil current ramp-up capability; (iv) installation of trim/saddle coils for active feedback control of the FRC plasma; and (v) extensive upgrade/expansion of plasma diagnostic capability. C-2W experiments have already produced dramatically improved initial FRC parameters with much higher plasma temperatures (T_e>250 eV; total electron and ion temperature >1.5 keV) and more trapped flux inside the FRC immediately after the merger. Plasma duration/lifetime has reached up to ~10 ms via outer-divertor edge biasing. This paper will review highlights of the C-2W program, including recently obtained experimental results.
[1] M.W. Binderbauer et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1721, 030003 (2016).