A self-consistent design is described for a large tandem mirror experiment (MFTF-B) proposed to be constructed at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Neutral-beam injected yin-yang mirror cells at each end of a 40 meter long central cell, provide MHD stability for the configuration, as in the TMX experiment. The largest potential well confining center-cell ions is generated by ECRH in auxiliary mirror cells (A-cells) added beyond the outer yin-yang mirrors. The required ECRH power (less than or equal to 1 MW) is minimized by use of thermal barriers installed at the local midplanes of each A-cell. In addition, the trapping of cold ions (n cold approx. n hot) in the local potential dips at the A-cell midplanes stabilize loss cone microstabilities. The impact of constraints imposed by neoclassical radial transport (resonant drifts), MHD stability (ballooning modes), and microstability (ion two-stream and loss cone modes) on the overall design will be assessed for the benefit of improving designs in future tandem mirror devices.

Experimental results are presented of the production of Field-Reversed Plasma with a high energy coaxial plasma gun. The gun is magnetized with solenoids inside the center electrode and outside the outer electrode so that plasma emerging from the gun entrains the radial fringer field at the muzzle. The plasma flow extends field lines propagating a high electrical conductivity, the flux inside the center electrode should be preserved. However, for low flux, the trapped flux exceeds by 2 or more the initial flux, possibly because of helical deformation of the current channel extending from the center electrode.

The ideas that led to the successful construction and operation of large multibeam fusion lasers at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory are reviewed. These lasers are based on the use of Nd:glass laser materials. However, most of the concepts are applicable to any laser being designed for fusion experimentation. This report is a summary of lectures given by the author at the 20th Scottish University Summer School in Physics, on Laser Plasma Interaction. This report includes basic concepts of the laser plasma system, a discussion of lasers that are useful for short-pulse, high-power operation, laser design constraints, optical diagnostics, and system organization.

Initial experimental results from the Tandem Mirror Experiment (TMX) are presented. Axial profiles of the plasma density and potential necessary for electrostatically enhanced confinement of the central-cell ions have been generated and sustained for the duration of neutral-beam injection. The resulting central-cell ion confinement against axial loss is improved by a factor as large as 9 above that given by magnetic confinement alone. The plasma exhibits gross magnetohydrodynamic stability and microstability. Under some conditions, a residual level of ion cyclotron fluctuations in the end cells heats the central-cell ions and degrades their confinement.