Plasma experiments on the staged theta pinch, the implosion heating experiment, and scyllac feedback-sector experiment

This paper summarizes results of the Los Alamos theta-pinch program in three areas of investigation. (1) In the Staged Theta Pinch results are reported on the effects of magnetic field amplitude and time history of plasma formation. (2) In the Implosion Heating Experiment density, internal-magnetic-field and neutron measurements yield a consistent picture of the implosion which agrees with kinetic computations and with a simple dynamic model of the ions and magnetic piston. (3) In the Scyllac Feedback-Sector Experiment the l = 1, 0 equilibrium plasma parameters have been adjusted to accommodate the feedback stabilization system. With a uniform toroidal discharge tube the m = 1 instability is feedback-stabilized in the vertical direction, and confinement in the toroidal direction is extended by feedback control. We also report results with a helical discharge tube.