Progress in Nonsolenoidal Plasma Startup Using Point-Source Helicity Injection in the \textsc{Pegasus} ST

Compact, high-current plasma guns are employed as DC helicity injectors on the \textsc{Pegasus} ST. This startup technique has produced $I_p \sim 0.17$ MA to date, consistent with helicity balance and Taylor relaxation constraints. Once a tokamak-like plasma is formed, passive electrodes can act as helicity injectors for further growth. This may provide additional control of the edge current density, the Taylor relaxation limit, and provide a higher helicity input rate. Ion heating to $T_i \sim 0.5$ keV is observed in the strongly-reconnecting, helicity-driven phase. Efficient handoff from helicity to inductive drive requires the buildup of core current density. Following helicity formation, OH-driven plasmas are MHD-quiescent and sustained above 0.20 MA, apparently due to increased core magnetic shear. Outstanding issues for prediction to larger fusion experiments include: structure of the edge current density; impedance of the injected current channel; impurity behavior; and the behavior of the confinement and helicity dissipation rate as $I_p $ and $T_e $ increase.