Overview of the Centrifugal Mirror Fusion Experiment (CMFX)

The goal of CMFX is to azimuthally rotate plasmas in a mirror configuration at supersonic speeds and densities of at least n = 10¹⁸ - 10¹⁹ m^-3 and T_e = T_i = 0.5 keV, for 15 ms or longer. An applied voltage across the magnetic field yields an azimuthal E x B drift that has been shown to create stabilizing velocity shear in prior centrifugal mirror experiments. A pair of superconducting magnets are now in place and tested at 3 T fields at the mirror throat and 0.375 T at midplane. The cylindrical chamber with a length of 6.7 m and diameter of almost 0.8 m contains a high-voltage center electrode, tungsten-coated circular grounding limiters, and bucket-shaped insulators to allow for applied voltages of up to 100 kV with an existing capacitor bank. A gas-puff and pre-ionization system will allow for fine control of density. Ion Doppler spectroscopy and interferometric density diagnostics are being calibrated and tested with low temperature plasmas in preparation for high-voltage experiments. Results from first discharge tests as well as future experimental plans to test analytical models and simulations, will be discussed.