The AAEC ROTAMAK experiment description and preliminary results at low input power.

Abstract

A description is given of the initial experiments on a rotamak device operating with 10 kW input power at a frequency of 1.85 MHz. The experimental apparatus and the diagnostic systems are also described. The matching of the radiofrequency power sources to the drive coils is discussed and details are given of the results from discharges in hydrogen, deuterium helium, and argon. The plasma/magnetic field configuration appears to be stable although under certain conditions fluctuations of the magnetic field structure have been observed.