Magnetic control of a Field Reversed Configuration

Magnetic control of a Field Reversed Configuration | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Magnetic control of a Field Reversed Configuration Jesus Romero, Kevin Phung, Sergei Galkin, Sergei Putvinski, Greg Snitchler, and 7 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6891039/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 02 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in Nuclear Fusion → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) is a highly diamagnetic plasma confinement device used in nuclear fusion research. FRC’s exhibit an internal region of weak magnetic field with ideal conditions to reach the high temperature required to burn high Z aneutronic fuels, such as proton-boron 11 (pB11), with low synchrotron radiation losses. Improving the stability and thermal properties of a high-density fusion machine based on the FRC concept requires its plasma size to be maximized and accommodated to a long confinement vessel, but this comes at a cost. The external field required to elongate the plasma results in an axially unstable behavior that demands active feedback control. Here we show how the Norm device – an FRC fusion research facility built and operated by TAE Technologies, Inc. – uses external magnetic coil actuators to modify the plasma shape and actively stabilize the position of a long plasma while sculpting its shape in real-time. The FRC, once believed to be able to operate only in pulse mode, can now be controlled and operated continuously in steady state, as required for a high-power density fusion plasma core. Physical sciences/Physics/Plasma physics/Magnetically confined plasmas Physical sciences/Energy science and technology/Nuclear energy/Nuclear fusion and fission Physical sciences/Engineering/Electrical and electronic engineering Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 02 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in Nuclear Fusion → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6891039","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":477487092,"identity":"7e664ce3-4288-4058-b422-d5397c405aa3","order_by":0,"name":"Jesus 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