Reversed field pinch

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Reversed-Field Pinch (RFP) is a toroidal magnetic confinement scheme. It is an alternative to the Tokamak for building a fusion reactor. It has a low-magnetic-field coil but high-fusion-power density. (See also Pinch (plasma physics))

The name of the configuration is from toroidal component of the magnetic field. Toroidal component's sign in the outer region of the plasma reverses. The largest Reversed Field Pinch device presently in operation is called the Reversed-Field eXperiment.

Contents

1 Characterics
2 Advantages
3 Magnetic Topology
4 External links

Characterics

Comparable magnetic field plasma intensity

*Toroidal component

*poloidal component

Internal field

note: Tokamak's field is toroidal and externally applied.

Advantages

Natural plasma
Economical
Compact
High power density (minimum energy, stable)
Ignition without the need of auxiliary heating
Internal dynamos
Turbulence driven
Established scalings

Magnetic Topology

The Reversed-Field Pinch works towards a state of "minimum energy".

The magnetic field lines coil loosely around a center torus. They coil outwards. Near the plasma edge, the toroidal magnetic field reverses and the field lines coil in the reverse direction.

Internal fields are bigger than the fields at the magnets.

External links


Atomic nucleus \| Nuclear fusion \| Nuclear power \| Nuclear reactor \| Timeline of nuclear fusion Plasma physics \| Magnetohydrodynamics \| Neutron flux \| Fusion energy gain factor \| Lawson criterion
Methods of fusing nuclei
Magnetic confinement: Tokamak - Spheromak - Stellarator - Reversed field pinch - Field-Reversed Configuration - Levitated Dipole Inertial confinement: Laser driven - Z-pinch - Bubble fusion Cold fusion: Muon-catalyzed fusion Inertial electrostatic confinement: Farnsworth–Hirsch Fusor Pyroelectric fusion
Fusion experiments
Magnetic confinement devices ITER (International) \| JET (European) \| JT-60 (Japan) \| Large Helical Device (Japan) \| EAST (China) \| T-15 (Russia) \| DIII-D (USA) \| TFTR (USA) \| NSTX (USA) \| NCSX (USA) \| Alcator C-Mod (USA) \| LDX (USA) \| PACER (USA) \| H-1NF (Australia) \| MAST (UK) \| START (UK) \| DEMO (Commercial) Inertial confinement devices NIF (USA) \| Nova laser (USA) \| OMEGA laser (USA) \| Shiva laser (USA) Z machine (USA) See also: International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility

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