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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry
Published on: August 1, 2017
Noninductively Driven Tokamak Plasmas at Near-Unity Toroidal Beta
D J Schlossberg1, G M Bodner1, M W Bongard1
1Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Abstract:
Access to and characterization of sustained, toroidally confined plasmas with a very high plasma-to-magnetic pressure ratio (β_{t}), low internal inductance, high elongation, and nonsolenoidal current drive is a central goal of present tokamak plasma research. Stable access to this desirable parameter space is demonstrated in plasmas with ultralow aspect ratio and high elongation. Local helicity injection provides nonsolenoidal sustainment, low internal inductance, and ion heating. Equilibrium analyses indicate β_{t} up to ∼100% with a minimum |B| well spanning up to ∼50% of the plasma volume.
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