Modular Theta-pinch Experiment (MTX) overview and initial results

The Modular Theta-pinch Experiment (MTX) at Los Alamos National Laboratory consists of multiple independently-triggered theta-pinches around a quartz vacuum vessel, each of which is driven by several capacitor/switch modules, enabling straightforward expansion and reconfiguration to drive a wide range of experiments. Initial work on MTX will explore the physics of high-density Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) plasmoid formation using a variety of techniques. Areas of investigation include the efficacy of several pre-ionization methods and implications for subsequent FRC formation, various formation approaches (e.g., "static"/simultaneous vs. "dynamic"/sequential field-reversal), and a widely range of tunable formation parameters (reversal voltage, bias field, length of formation section, etc.). A program overview, scaling theory, and preliminary experimental results will be presented.