Fusion Spheromak

This paper summarizes several studies of fusion reactors based on the compact torus (CT). A wide variety of reactor configurations can be projected within present understanding of the possible types of CT and their macroscopic stability and confinement properties. Three types of CT are considered here, the field-reversed-configuration having B oroidal 0, the Spheromak with 0, and CT s formed with particle rings. 

Furthermore, the advancement in understanding the physics of the spheromak is complementary to tokamak study. For example, operation with magnetic shear only and no minimum B could contribute important information concerning stability properties in tokamaks. This complementary approach to the tokamak will resist the tendency towards solidification in fusion research due to "simple psychological optimism. We hope that in the near future overall optimization of the toroidal device will be accomplished by integrating various activities. 

One can, therefore, envisage a hybrid system in which a spheromak or a 0-pinch type plasma is stabilized and heated by large orbit ions. Thus, the ratio Wp/Wj (see Eq. (11)) could be increased to attain acceptable values of Q. The stability of these ring-systems will be discussed in detail in a forthcoming review on this topic in Nuclear Fusion. 

M. Okabayshi and A. M. M. Todd, MHD Equilibrium and Stability of the Spheromak, submitted to Nucl. Fusion. 

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