AMBAL-M status

Investigation of the hot initial plasma created in an axisymmetric end syst em of the ambipolar trap AMBAL-M has been completed; In the end mirror we o btained the MHD stable plasma with the electron temperature of 50 eV, ion t emperature 200 eV, and density about 10(13) cm(-3). In an MHD anchor - the semicusp a transverse profile of the plasma pressure favorable for the MHD stability was obtained. Pulsed injection of fast atoms with the current of 100 A demonstrated sufficient accumulation rate of the ion population trapp ed into the initial plasma. The first experiments with ICR-heating of the i nitial plasma were carried out. Two atomic injectors of the end mirror were prepared for work. In these inj ectors four quasistationary proton beams were obtained with the energy of 2 5 keV and current of up to 50 A per beam. After their charge-exchange the a tomic beams were passed through an MHD stabilizing shell and the target pla sma. Principal vacuum units of the 2-nd stage of the installation were tested an d prepaired for assembly. One-half of the magnet-vacuum system of the AMBAL -M central solenoid was assembled and tested for vacuum.