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In
terms of universal scaled parameters that allow the extrapolation
of specific experiments to other magnetic confinement devices, as
well as to space and astrophysical plasmas, this new device will
span the following range:
- number
of particles in a Debye sphere (variable from 10^2 to 10^6)
- magnetization
parameter wpe/We (variable from 3x10-2 to 5x10^4)
- ratio
of plasma kinetic energy density to magnetic energy density,
b (variable from 10-7 to larger than 2)
- ratio
of Alfven speed to electron thermal velocity vA/ve (variable
from 0.1 to 10)
- number
of axial Alfven wavelengths (0.5 to 10).
The
wide range in plasma parameters available to experimentalists together
with the extraordinary ease of access and relatively short time
required to set up experiments will permit the study of a broad
range of frontier areas in plasma science. Noteworthy among these
are:
-
Study of heat and particle transport under a wide variety of
heating conditions;
- Simulation
of ionospheric heating experiments (HAARP, ARECIBO);
- Exploration
of electrostatic and electromagnetic turbulence;
- Alfvenic
turbulence and electron acceleration (auroral beams, solar physics);
- Behavior
of edge plasmas;
- Formation
and dynamics of density structures (vortices, plasma bubbles,
filaments);
- Transformation
of electromagnetic waves at density gradients (solar radio noise,
scintillations);
- Effect
of biasing and rotation on turbulent structures;
- Wave-particle
interactions with Alfven waves;
- Interactions
of current channels;
- Modeling
of auroral current systems;
- Spontaneous
generation of fast ions;
- 3-D
reconnection processes;
- Effects
associated with flows and shock formation (modeling processes
in solar wind, magnetosphere);
- Development
and testing of advanced high-frequency diagnostics;
- Development
of microscopic probe and sensor arrays;
It
is to be recognized that the experiments in this device will have
a major impact on the development of plasma theory and simulation
because they will generate unambiguous quantitative measurements
of phenomena that thus far have not been tested. In essence the
basic plasma science facility has the potential to solidify the
foundations of plasma theory (by weeding out failing ideas) while
simultaneously stimulating its development in different directions
with the discovery of new phenomena.
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