Experimental results from START
START began operation in January 1991 and immediately gave promising results, with measurements of high electron temperatures. High plasma densities can be obtained - the START 'operating space' is at least as large as in conventional tokamaks, and energy confinement in START plasmas is better than predicted by most confinement scalings. Since 1991 considerable development and improvement to both device and diagnostics has taken place, with a significant increase in plasma size. Plasma current has increased from 20,000 to over 300,000 Amps. An unexpected but important advantage is that the current terminating "major disruptions" normally observed in conventional tokamaks appear to be largely self-stabilising on START, and although terminations can occur they are more easily avoided.
A START plasma
(click picture for a larger image)
| Click here to see an animated START high-speed video of a plasma shot. |