MINIATURE MAGNETIC BOTTLE CONFINED BY CIRCULARLY-POLARIZED LASER-LIGHT

A new concept of hot plasma confinement in a miniature magnetic bottle induced by circularly polarized laser light is suggested. Magnetic fi elds generated by circularly polarized laser light may be of the order of megagauss. In this configuration the circularly polarized laser li ght is used to obtain confinement of a plasma contained in a good cond uctor vessel. The poloidal magnetic field induced by the circularly po larized laser and the efficiency of laser absorption by the plasma are calculated, The confinement in this scheme is supported by the magnet ic forces. The Lawson criterion for a DT plasma might be achieved for number density n = 5 . 10(21) cm(-3) and confinement time tau = 20 ns. The laser and plasma parameters required to obtain an energetic gain are calculated.