Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A 100 KW Class Applied-field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster
Published on: December 22, 2018
Tokamak startup using point-source dc helicity injection
D J Battaglia1, M W Bongard, R J Fonck
1Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Abstract:
Startup of a 0.1 MA tokamak plasma is demonstrated on the ultralow aspect ratio Pegasus Toroidal Experiment using three localized, high-current density sources mounted near the outboard midplane. The injected open field current relaxes via helicity-conserving magnetic turbulence into a tokamaklike magnetic topology where the maximum sustained plasma current is determined by helicity balance and the requirements for magnetic relaxation.
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