Particle lifetime scaling in field-reversed configurations based on lower-hybrid-drift resistivity

The particle lifetime scaling for field-reversed configurations is derived in the limit where classical resistivity is negligible and anomalous resistivity is dominant. This scaling is shown to have the form τN∝S4(1+C/S)3, where S is the ratio of the major radius to ion Larmor radius. The term in parentheses represents a contribution from open field line confinement which is very significant for present small-S field-reversed configurations since C has a typical value of 50. The open field line confinement only loses importance for reactor-sized plasmas with major radii approaching 1 m.