Overview of the Centrifugal Mirror Fusion Experiment (CMFX)

POSTER

Abstract

We present progress on the design and construction of the Centrifugal Mirror Fusion Experiment (CMFX). The goal of this experiment is to azimuthally rotate plasmas in a mirror configuration at supersonic speeds to confine plasmas with n=1018 m-3 and Te = Ti = 0.5 keV, for at least 15 ms. A pair of superconducting magnets will enable 3 T fields at the mirror throat and up to 0.5 T at midplane. A cylindrical chamber with a length of 6.7 m and diameter of almost 0.8 m will contain a center electrode with bucket-shaped insulators to allow for applied voltages of up to 100 kV. The applied voltage will yield an azimuthal E × B drift that has been shown to create stabilizing velocity shear in prior centrifugal mirror experiments. RF plasma initiation will allow for finer control of density than that achieved by simply meeting Paschen breakdown conditions between electrodes. Ion Doppler spectroscopy and interferometric measurements of hydrogen plasmas will be initially deployed to validate analytical and numerical modeling and help design discharges with deuterium that are planned for later in the program.

*Work supported by the ARPA-E Grant No. DE-AR0001270. Undergraduate summer students supported by the Maryland Space Grant Consortium and by UMBC.

Presenters

  • Carlos A Romero-Talamás

    • University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD 21250

Authors

  • Carlos A Romero-Talamás

    • University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD 21250

  • Ian G Abel

    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • IREAP, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
    • IREAP, University of Maryland, College Park

  • John L Ball

    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • IREAP, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

  • Debjyoti Basu

    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD 21250

  • Brian Beaudoin

    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • IREAP, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

  • Leah Dorsey

    • Capitol Technology University, Laurel, MD 20708

  • Nathan Eschbach

    • University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD 21250

  • Adil B Hassam

    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • IREAP, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

  • Timothy W Koeth

    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • IREAP, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

  • Zachary D Short

    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • IREAP, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

  • Nicholas Schwartz

    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • IREAP, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742