Electrostatic Plasma-Confinement Experiments in a Tandem Mirror System

Abstract

Results from the tandem mirror experiment are described. The configuration of axial density and potential profiles are created and sustained by neutral-beam injection and gas fueling. Plasma confinement in the center cell is shown to be improved by the end plugs by as much as a factor of 9. The electron temperature is higher than that achieved in our earlier $2\mathrm{XII}B$ single-cell mirror experiment.