Session KP01 - Poster Session III.
POSTER session, Tuesday afternoon, March 23
Exhibit Hall, GWCC
A toroidal, magnetized plasma known as the reversed-field pinch exhibits fluctuations in the magnetic field which confines the plasma. Although the fluctuations are relatively small, about one percent of the equilibrium field, they can have two major macroscopic consequences: (1) the spontaneous generation of current and magnetic field (the dynamo effect) and (2) the production of energy transport across the plasma through the formation of chaotic magnetic field lines. The fluctuations are understood to be generated by spatial nonuniformity in the plasma current. Thus, it is expected that control of the equilibrium current profile will suppress magnetic chaos, and the transport associated with it. Suppression of magnetic chaos and transportis desirable to (1) controllably investigate the relation between fluctuations and transport and (2) advance the reversed-field pinch as a fusion energy concept. In the MST experiment current profile control has been implemented by inductive and electrostatic current drive techniques. To date the effects of current profile control are large - a two-fold reduction in fluctuation amplitude and a five-fold reduction in transport. A powerful link between magnetic chaos and transport is implied.