Prospects for a high-field, compact break-even axisymmetric mirror (BEAM) and applications

• Published in: Journal of plasma physics Vol. 90; no. 1
• Main Authors: Forest, C.B., Anderson, J.K., Endrizzi, D., Egedal, J., Frank, S., Furlong, K., Ialovega, M., Kirch, J., Harvey, R.W., Lindley, B., Petrov, Yu.V., Pizzo, J., Qian, T., Sanwalka, K., Schmitz, O., Wallace, J., Yakovlev, D., Yu, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 17.01.2024
• Subjects: Open Magnetic Systems for Plasma Confinement; plasma confinement; fusion plasma; plasma devices
• ISSN: 0022-3778; 1469-7807
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022377823001290

This paper explores the feasibility of a break-even-class mirror referred to as BEAM (break-even axisymmetric mirror): a neutral-beam-heated simple mirror capable of thermonuclear-grade parameters and $Q\sim 1$ conditions. Compared with earlier mirror experiments in the 1980s, BEAM would have: higher-energy neutral beams, a larger and denser plasma at higher magnetic field, both an edge and a core and capabilities to address both magnetohydrodynamic and kinetic stability of the simple mirror in higher-temperature plasmas. Axisymmetry and high-field magnets make this possible at a modest scale enabling a short development time and lower capital cost. Such a $Q\sim 1$ configuration will be useful as a fusion technology development platform, in which tritium handling, materials and blankets can be tested in a real fusion environment, and as a base for development of higher-$Q$ mirrors.