Construction Status of the Madison Plasma Dynamo Experiment

POSTER

Abstract

Construction of the Madison Plasma Dynamo Experiment (MPDX) is partially complete. This facility will be utilized to create large, un-magnetized, fast flowing, hot plasma for investigating magnetic field self-generation and flow driven MHD instabilities. A 3 meter diameter spherical vacuum chamber lined with a series of high strength samarium cobalt magnets will provide plasma confinement. The plasma will be stirred from the magnetized edge using electrodes to produce JxB flows. Plasma sources will include lanthanum hexaboride cathodes and electron cyclotron heating. This poster will describe the current status of the design and construction of the facility including laboratory infrastructure, cast aluminum vacuum chamber, magnets, stirring electrodes, sources and diagnostics. Construction is being funded by the NSF Major Research Instrumentation program.

Authors

  • John Wallace

    • University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • U. of Wisconsin
    • University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Mike Clark

    • Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • U. of Wisconsin

  • Cami Collins

    • University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • University of Wisconsin, Madison
    • U. of Wisconsin

  • Noam Katz

    • University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • University of Wisconsin, Madison
    • University of Wisconsin-Madison
    • U. of Wisconsin

  • David Weisberg

    • U. of Wisconsin
    • University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • C.B. Forest

    • University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • University of Wisconsin-Madison
    • University of Wisconsin
    • Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • University of Wisconsin, Madison
    • U. of Wisconsin