Accelerated Taylor plumes for MIF targets

The SSX plasma device has been converted to a $2.5~m$ merging plasma wind tunnel configuration. Experiments are underway to study merging and stagnation of high density, helical Taylor states\footnote{Gray, et al, PRL {\bf 110}, 085002 (2013).} to employ as a potential target for magneto-inertial fusion. Eventually, SSX Taylor states will be accelerated to over $100~km/s$ and compressed to small volumes either by stagnation or merging. Initial un-accelerated merging studies produce peak proton densities of $5 \times 10^{15}~cm^{-3}$. Densities are measured with a precision quadrature He-Ne laser interferometer. Typical merged plasma parameters are $T_i = 20~eV, T_e= 10~eV, B = 0.4~T$ with lifetimes of $100~\mu s$. Results from a single prototype acceleration coil will be presented, as well as initial simulation studies of Taylor state plasma acceleration using multiple staged, pulsed theta-pinch coils.