Construction and operational experience of the Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U)

The Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U) incorporates two new features at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) tandem mirror program, thermal barriers in the end plugs and injection of the neutral beams at several oblique angles. The thermal barriers isolate the electrons in the end plugs from those in the central cell, making it possible to heat them independently with microwaves. In addition, this innovation produces a large potential gradient in the end plugs with lower magnetic fields and lower neutral-beam energies than would be possible in a conventional tandem mirror device. The TMX-U is also designed to test neutral-beam-injection angles as an experimental parameter. We use angles other than 90/sup 0/ to produce a plasma with improved microstability.