On September 16, 2014 the first plasma was launched in the renovated Magnetized AnisotRopic Ion-distribution Apparatus (MARIA). Victoria Winters, the graduate student working on the device accomplished this important step together with Umiar Siddiqui, a former PhD student of Prof. Hershkowitz who has setup the device.
The device will be a multi-purpose high density, low temperature plasma test facility. We will address atomic physics as well as plasma material interaction issues on the setup. It is planned to enhance the device for high density operation at detached divertor temperature conditions which requires enhancing the helicon wave power, coupling ion cyclotron heating and also improving the neutral fueling capacity.
–News 08-22 -2014