Behavior of the plasma in the anchor cell of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror

Abstract

Anchor cells of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror are composed of minimum-B magnetic field configuration. Behavior of the plasma in the anchor cell is studied using puffing gas flow rate (PGFR) modulation and by covering some parts of the flux tube of each anchor cell by conducting plates (APs). Ambient neutral pressure is decreased by PGFR modulation during axial/potential confinement in both cases without and with APs and it is found that both line density (nlEA) and diamagnetism (dmEA) of the anchor cell plasma increase. Lower neutral pressure in the minimum-B region is investigated during the floated APs and significant improvement of the GAMMA 10 plasma parameters is observed. Possible explanations of the experimental results are given from the viewpoint of ambient neutral pressure oriented anchor plasma behavior. Probable reasons of enhanced ambient neutral pressure in the anchor cell and adverse effects of these neutrals on GAMMA 10 plasma parameters are also pointed out.