Exploration of spherical torus physics in the NSTX device

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Abstract
The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) is being built at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory to test the fusion physics principles for the spherical torus concept at the MA level. The NSTX nominal plasma parameters are R0 =8 5 cm,a =6 7 cm,R=a 1:26, Bt =3k G, Ip =1 MA,q95 = 14, elongation 2:2, triangularity 0:5 and a plasma pulse length of up to 5 s. The plasma heating/current drive tools are high harmonic fast wave (6 MW, 5 s), neutral beam injection (5 MW, 80 keV, 5 s) and coaxial helicity injection. Theoretical calculations predict that NSTX should provide exciting possibilities for exploring a number of important new physics regimes, including very high plasma , naturally high plasma elongation, high bootstrap current fraction, absolute magnetic well and high pressure driven sheared ow. In addition, the NSTX programme plans to explore fully non-inductive plasma startup as well as a dispersive scrape-o layer for heat and particle ux handling.