AUSTRALIA - ANU

RESEARCH SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Canberra, A.C.T. 0200

Telephone: +61 2 6125 5422
Telefax: +61 2 6125 8316
E-mail: Helen.Hawes@anu.edu.au
URL:   http://www.anu.edu.au/rsphysse/prl/PRL.html

Plasma Research Laboratory (Ext. 55422)
Harris, Jeffrey Hunter (Head) (E-mail: Jeffrey.Harris@anu.edu.au )
Ball, Rowena (E-mail: Rowena.Ball@anu.edu.au )
Blackwell, Boyd Douglas (E-mail: Boyd.Blackwell@anu.edu.au )
Borg, Gerard (E-mail: Gerard.Borg@anu.edu.au )
Boswell, Roderick William (E-mail: rwb112@rsphysse.anu.edu.au )
Dewar, Robert Leith (E-mail: Robert.Dewar@anu.edu.au )
Howard, John (E-mail: John.Howard@anu.edu.au )
Shats, Michael G. (E-mail: Michael.Shats@anu.edu.au )

Research activities:
All ANU experimental research is now based on helical axis stellarator (heliac) geometry.

The H-1 device (R=1.0m, <a> ~ 0.2m) is capable of both pulsed (B < 0.25T, 1s) and continuous (B < 0.25T) operation. It has a wide range of available configurations with 0.6 < i(o) < 2 and various magnetic well depths, and currently uses RF for both plasma production and heating. The H-1 program emphasises finite-beta equilibria and stability, fluctuation phenomena, and effects of RF on transport. Experimental work includes advanced diagnostic development, including real-time 2D tomographic density reconstruction from multi-directional interferometric data, fluctuation imaging by far-forward laser scattering, and new methods of magnetic field tracing. The H-1 experimental device became a Major National Research Facility in 1996. In 2000 the magnetic field was increased to 0.6 T and the heating power to 0.5MW.

Theoretical computational work includes studies of 3D MHD equilibria, stability and 3D wave (e.g. drift wave) propagation, stellarator transport, and nonlinear interactions of MHD and other modes.