HOT ROTATING PLASMA IN THE PSP-2 EXPERIMENT

Studies have been carried out of an MHD stable rotating plasma with the following parameters: mean ion energy up to 40 keV in the laboratory frame of reference or up to 20 keV in the rotating frame of reference, plasma density 3 x 10(11) cm-3 (and up to 10(12) cm-3 in special regimes), mean energy of electrons 0.1-1.0 keV (non-Maxwellian spectrum). lifetime of ions 10(4) s (determined by charge exchange), and plasma volume 0.1 m3, in experiments on the PSP-2 device. The field strength in the plasma was about 20 kV/cm, and the total voltage achieved 0.5 MV. The MHD stabilization conditions are in agreement with the theoretical estimates. A hot plasma was created in a high voltage E --> x B --> discharge, the cold hydrogen gas having been puffed without any heating or plasma injection systems.