Preionization in the Hanbit Tandem Mirror

There is strong evidence that the ICRH applied to the central cell (CC) of Hanbit does not result in complete ionization. Two techniques are being tried in an attempt to improve the degree of ionization. The first of them is ECRH preionization by application of microwave power from one 2-kW CPI klystron at 14 GHz as well as two 1.8-kW VA-806 klystrons at 7.67 GHz and 7.87 GHz. The second technique is production of a reflex discharge using a 76 mm diameter LaB₆ cathode heated to incandescence and biased negatively in the cusp end cell of Hanbit. The ECRH preionization has shown beneficial effects on the plasma. There are no results from the reflex discharge.