Equilibrium properties of spherical torus plasmas in NSTX

Research in NSTX has been conducted to establish spherical torus plasmas to be used for high beta, auxiliary heated experiments. This device has a maj or radius R-0 = 0.86 m and a midplane halfwidth of 0.7 m. It has been opera ted with toroidal magnetic field B-0 < 0.3 T and I-p less than or equal to 1.0 MA. The evolution of the plasma equilibrium is analysed between dischar ges with an automated version of the EFIT code. Limiter, double null and lo wer single null diverted configurations have been sustained for several ene rgy confinement times. The plasma stored energy reached 92 kJ (beta (t) = 1 7.8%) with neutral beam heating. A plasma elongation in the range 1.6 less than or equal to k less than or equal to 2.0 and a triangularity in the ran ge 0.25 < delta < 0.45 have been sustained, with values of k = 2.6 and delt a = 0.6 being reached transiently. The reconstructed magnetic signals are f itted to the corresponding measured values with low errors. Aspects of the plasma boundary, pressure and safety factor profiles are supported by measu rements from non-magnetic diagnostics. Plasma densities have reached 0.8 an d 1.2 times the Greenwald limit in deuterium and helium plasmas, respective ly, with no clear limit encountered. Instabilities including sawteeth and r econnection events, characterized by Mirnov oscillations, and a perturbatio n of the I-p, k, and l(i) evolutions, have been observed. A low q limit was observed and is imposed by a low toroidal mode number kink instability.