Performance characterization of the Caltech compact torus injector

Abstract

A device is described which is designed to refuel tokamaks of major radius ≊1 m and magnetic field ≊1 T by the injection of a compact torus. The injector utilizes an acceleration stage which adds kinetic energy to the compact torus so that it can penetrate the tokamak magnetic field. The performance of the device was found to be optimized in an unexpected parameter regime. It is theorized that in this regime the accelerator takes part in the formation of the CT. A performance threshold with respect to accelerator current will be presented and methods of impurity reduction will be detailed.