PLUG POTENTIAL FORMATION IN A TANDEM MIRROR

It is suggested experimentally that a plug potential forms in a differ ent mechanism from the originally expected scenario in the present tan dem mirror [T. Tamano, Phys. Plasmas 2, 2321 (1995)]. That is, the for mation requires only electron cyclotron resonance heating experimental ly. In this manuscript, therefore, the plug potential with continuous axial profile is analytically shown to be created with the plausible i on and electron distribution functions in a present tandem mirror, i.e ., passing ions, mirror trapped ions in the thermal barrier, passing e lectrons, phi-trapped electrons in a plug potential, and the small amo unt of ions that are born around the plug region. (C) 1997 American In stitute of Physics.