FRC Formation And Translation Experiments On The C-2W Experiment

C-2W field-reversed configuration (FRC) experiments have begun at TAE Technologies [1]. Increased stored energy, improved pulsed power reliability, and dynamic control of magnetic fields have allowed creation of FRC targets with improved characteristics.  Parameters achieved so far include relative translation velocities of over 1000 km/s, trapped flux of over 15 mWb, and diamagnetic energy of over 10 kJ.  Translation characteristics have been scanned over wide ranges of magnetic fields, including passage through mirror fields of over 0.7 Tesla.  Mapping and searching techniques including Optometrist Algorithm [2] stochastic searches have been utilized to determine system functionality and optimal operating settings.  A review of achieved initial conditions and experimental observations will be presented.

[1] M.W. Binderbauer et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1721, 030003 (2016).

[2] E.A. Baltz et al., Sci. Rep. 7, 6425 (2017)