Progress towards a high voltage, independently triggered, modular-coil Field Reversed Configuration experiment

Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) plasmoids are ideal candidates for Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) concepts, which rely on generating high density, translatable plasmas with sufficient lifetime to undergo compression. A new Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) experiment is being constructed at Los Alamos National Laboratory capable of exploring high-density FRC formation with fast (sub-microsecond) reversal times and large inductive electric field (0.7 kV/cm) using new high voltage (80 kV), low inductance (100s nH), modular-coil hardware. Initial FRC formation results using the new hardware will be presented and performance limits of current techniques discussed.