Generation of poloidally rotating spheromaks by the conical theta pinch

Spatially resolved spectroscopic measurements revealed the existence of poloidal vortex motion in spheromaks produced in a conical theta pinch. The poloidal velocity on the axis was estimated to be 5 cm/μsec. Large Doppler broadening, which previously was inferred as high ion temperature, is attributed to large internal fluid velocity. A possible effect of the vortex motion in a spheromak merging experiment is studied and found to enhance the fusion reaction rate as a finite temperature beam collider.