Monte Carlo studies of ICRF in tandem mirrors

Tandem Mirror Fusion Reactor concepts consist of a central solenoid surrounded by a blanket in which the bulk of the reacting plasma is contained. Electrostatic confinement of the bulk plasma ions and plasma stability is providd by complex mirror plugs at each end of the solenoid. In the TARA mode, named for a device under construction at MIT, each end plug consists of a strong axisymmetric mirror, a thermal barrier driven by neutral beams and Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) whose function is to isolate central cell and anchor electrons, and an MHD anchor which supplies gross plasma stability, and in which the confining electrostatic potential is created by neutral beam injection (NBI).