title: Numerical investigation of transients in the SSPX Spheromak.
abstract: Nonlinear plasma simulations of the Sustained Spheromak Physics Experiment demonstrate the role of transient effects in establishing a toroidal magnetic structure that confines internal energy. Magnetohydrodynamics modeling with temperature-dependent transport coefficients compares well with experimental measurements and shows that the second current pulse improves confinement by keeping the q profile from falling below the value of 1/2, suppressing resonant m = 1, n = 2 fluctuations.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sovinec
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cone
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: McLean