Neutral Beam Injection on C-2W

In TAE Technologies' current experimental device, C-2W (also called "Norman"), record breaking, advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas are sustained in steady state utilizing variable energy neutral beams, advanced divertors, edge-biasing electrodes, and an active plasma control system.¹ The ensemble of neutral beam injectors (NBI) includes: four static energy 15 keV, 140 A H/D beams, four tunable energy 15-40 keV, 150 A H/D beams, and one diagnostic 40 keV, 15 A beam. Traditionally, NBI provides heating, current drive, and fuel to a plasma system. On C-2W, the heating beams provide stability and sustainment, as well. We will present recent experimental observations of NBI effects on plasma stored energy, and we will report updates on utilizing feedback control of NBI in conjunction with other control systems and the use of multiple diagnostics to measure plasma quantities.

¹Gota et al, "Overview of C-2W: High-temperature, steady-state beam-driven field-reversed configuration plasmas", Nucl. Fusion 61 106039 (2021).