Quadrupole Stabilization of the <span class="aps-inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi>n</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn><mn></mn></math></span> Rotational Instability of a Field-Reversed Theta-Pinch Plasma

S. Ohi; T. Minato; Y. Kawakami; M. Tanjyo; S. Okada; Y. Ito; M. Kako; S. Gotô; T. Ishimura; H. Itô

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.51.1042

Quadrupole Stabilization of the $n = 2$ Rotational Instability of a Field-Reversed Theta-Pinch Plasma

S. Ohi, T. Minato, Y. Kawakami, M. Tanjyo, S. Okada, Y. Ito, M. Kako, S. Gotô, T. Ishimura, and H. Itô

Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 1042 – Published 19 September 1983

Abstract

The $n = 2$ rotational instability is the most dangerous gross instability in a field-reversed theta pinch. It is demonstrated for the first time that the instability is completely suppressed by superposing a quadrupole field which is much smaller than the axial confinement field at the separatrix. The experimental threshold intensity of the field for stabilization is about 2.5 times less than that predicted by theoretical stability analysis.