Electrostatic Potential in the Endcells of a Tandem Mirror under Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating

Abstract

The electrostatic potential profile in the endcells of a tandem mirror under electron cyclotron resonance heating is studied by including an ionization process. A plug potential is found to form with a combination of created ions by ionization, wave-heated electrostatically trapped electrons and mirror trapped electrons, but without a help of high energy sloshing ions. In the present model the electrostatic potential has its maximum at the outer mirror throat of end mirror cell.