Relativistic and Wave Effects on Confinement in Rotating Magnetic Mirrors
POSTER
Abstract
Rotating magnetic mirror confinement systems are experiencing a resurgence of interest, partly as a result of the great success of shear stabilization. At the same time, new calculations of the proton-Boron 11 (pB11) power balance have shown that breakeven aneutronic fusion is less prohibitive than once thought. Here, we examine features of rotating mirror confinement unique to the high temperatures (150-300 keV) of the pB11 reaction. Here, relativistic effects are important for electron collisions, reducing the electron confinement [1]. At the same time, electron cyclotron radiation becomes important. These effects can be incorporated in the electron Fokker-Planck equation, leading to new confinement time scalings unique to relativistic plasmas, which are validated with a novel DolfinX-based finite-element Fokker-Planck code.
In addition to naturally-occurring wave effects, one can also deploy more auspicious waves in order to improve the plasma confinement through ponderomotive forces. The presence of rotation raises the intriguing possibility of using static perturbations at the plasma edge in order to introduce a propagating wave in the rotating frame [2]. However, the engineering simplicity of such a scheme is accompanied by subtleties in the analysis of the wave polarization. We examine the root of this problem by adopting a simple slab model, showing how the choice of potential model in the lab frame can change the wave polarization and amplitude in the plasma frame, and thus completely change the form of the ponderomotive force [3].
[1] I. E. Ochs, V. R. Munirov, and N. J. Fisch, “Confinement time and ambipolar potential in a relativistic mirror-confined plasma,” Physics of Plasmas, 30, 052508 (2023).
[2] T. Rubin, J. M. Rax, and N. J. Fisch, “Magnetostatic ponderomotive potential in rotating plasma,” Physics of Plasmas, 30, 052501 (2023).
[3] I. E. Ochs and N. J. Fisch, “The Critical Role of Isopotential Surfaces for Magnetostatic Ponderomotive Forces.” arXiv 2305.09768. (2023).
In addition to naturally-occurring wave effects, one can also deploy more auspicious waves in order to improve the plasma confinement through ponderomotive forces. The presence of rotation raises the intriguing possibility of using static perturbations at the plasma edge in order to introduce a propagating wave in the rotating frame [2]. However, the engineering simplicity of such a scheme is accompanied by subtleties in the analysis of the wave polarization. We examine the root of this problem by adopting a simple slab model, showing how the choice of potential model in the lab frame can change the wave polarization and amplitude in the plasma frame, and thus completely change the form of the ponderomotive force [3].
[1] I. E. Ochs, V. R. Munirov, and N. J. Fisch, “Confinement time and ambipolar potential in a relativistic mirror-confined plasma,” Physics of Plasmas, 30, 052508 (2023).
[2] T. Rubin, J. M. Rax, and N. J. Fisch, “Magnetostatic ponderomotive potential in rotating plasma,” Physics of Plasmas, 30, 052501 (2023).
[3] I. E. Ochs and N. J. Fisch, “The Critical Role of Isopotential Surfaces for Magnetostatic Ponderomotive Forces.” arXiv 2305.09768. (2023).
Publication: I. E. Ochs, V. R. Munirov, and N. J. Fisch, "Confinement time and ambipolar potential in a relativistic mirror-confined plasma," Physics of Plasmas, 30, 052508 (2023).<br>I. E. Ochs and N. J. Fisch, "The Critical Role of Isopotential Surfaces for Magnetostatic Ponderomotive Forces." arXiv 2305.09768. (2023).
Presenters
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Ian E Ochs
Princeton University
Authors
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Ian E Ochs
Princeton University
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Vadim R Munirov
Princeton University
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Nathaniel J Fisch
Princeton University