Formation and Stability of ION Ring Configurations

The low-frequency stability of ion rings and previous experimental work on weak ion rings is briefly summarized. In anticipation of a new experimental thrust to create field reversed strong ion rings, numerical simulations have helped to outline the physics of ring formation by the injection of short pulse intense ion beams (~ 1 kA/cm²) into a gas filled magnetic cusp followed by solenoidal ramped magnetic field.