Electron inertial effects on rotating magnetic field current drive.

The effect of finite electron mass on the formation and sustainment of a field reversed configuration (FRC) by rotating magnetic fields (RMF) is studied. The importance of inertial effects is measured by the ratio between the RMF frequency (ω) and the electron-ion collision frequency (ν). In the limit where this ratio is very small (ω/ν→0), previous results corresponding to massless electrons are recovered. When ω/ν increases there are significant changes in the value of the minimum external rotating field needed to sustain the FRC and the time required to reach a steady state. Since ν decreases with increasing temperature and decreasing density, these effects are expected to become more important as fusion relevant temperatures are approached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]