Experimental Studies on the High-beta Equilibrium and Stability of Rapidly Flowing Plasma Produced in Toroidal Non-neutral Plasma Trap

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We have studied the self-organization mechanism in flowing plasmas to explore the diversity of structures created in space and astronomical systems, and also examined the applicability of the high-beta equilibrium for advanced-fusion concept.1.Results of Theoretical StudiesWe have developed some innovative methods for the analysis of equilibria and stability of flowing plasmas. Unlike the conventional theories of stationary (non-flowing) plasmas, the analysis of flowing plasmas may not invoke the well-known methods of spectral decomposition or energy principle. Analyzing the topological singularities of the non-canonical Hamiltonian formalisms, we have succeeded to characterize the basic vertical structures of flow-field coupling in terms of Casimir invariants (helicities). The corresponding variational principle yields a Lyapunov function, whose coercivity warrants the stability of the "Beltrami fields", the minimizer of the variational principle. The theory has been applied to explai … More n the structural instabilities in solar corona, high-beta equilibria in Jupiter's magnetosphere, as well as new-type of flowing equilibria in Proto-RT and RT-1 devices.2.Results of Experimental StudiesWe have demonstrated stable formation of super-sonic (Mach number > 5) rotating plasma in the Proto-RT Device. The Proto-RT device can confine a non-neutral (pure electron) plasma in a "magnetosphere-like" configuration. A non-neutral plasma produces a flowing (spinning) equilibrium by its self-electric field. By applying an internal electric field in a quasi-neutral plasma, we can achieve a similar flowing plasma. We have established a unified understanding of non-neutral and flowing plasmas : (1)We have demonstrated stable confinement of non-neutral plasma in a magnetic-surface configuration,; (2)By applying a radial electric field, we have demonstrated the self-organization of stable super-sonic flowing plasma ; (3)We have demonstrated the production of a new branch of equilibrium by the effect of fast flow ; (4)We have developed new technologies to construct magnetosphere-like plasma confinement device. Less