Electrostatic current drive for a field reversed configuration

Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) is a compact toroid with little or no toroidal (azimuthal) magnetic field. Its confinement is strongly dependent upon the poloidal (axial) magnetic field BZ. In an FRC, BZ is generated primarily by an azimuthal plasma current. The plasma current in the FRC under investigation is mainly carried by energetic ions and, to some degree, by the electrons. Therefore, it is imperative to drive both ions and electrons. We start, in chapter 2, by discussing the one-dimensional equilibrium model for the FRC, and using this model in chapter 3, we derive particle distributions in drift and betatron orbits. It is found that if the ion azimuthal energy exceeds the thermal energy, ions will be mainly in the betatron orbits. The electrons will be primarily in the drift orbits. In chapter 4 the dielectric tensor for the FRC is derived. The dielectric tensor obtained using a fluid model has an unphysical singularity, whereas the dielectric tensor calculated by perturbing the Vlasov equation is analytical everywhere. The penetration of a tripole-generated wave is addressed in chapter 5. The wave penetrates poorly when ions are primarily in the drift orbits, and shows more favorable penetration when ions are mainly in the betatron orbits. Furthermore, it is shown that electrons do not significant contribute to the dielectric tensor. The power requirements to maintain the plasma current and the refueling for a 10 MW D-T neutron source are calculated in chapter 6 to be 1 MW per axial meter. The wave produced via the tripolar electrodes is 2 MW per axial meter when 1000 volts is applied across the electrodes.