On the installations AMBAL-M and MAL in turbulent plasma column the longitudinal current of some kiloampers was measured. The fluctuation spectrum of magnetic field was measured by azimuthal magnetic probes and expansion of plasma current by spatial modes was carried out.According to the experimental data the amplitudes of currents I-n, sizes R-n and shifts from axis of simmetry Delta R-n for 3rd (40kHz) and 5th (72kHz) basic modes were calculated.

The generation of large-scale magnetic fields and electric currents via small-scale turbulent motions of the conducting medium, which plays an important role in the dynamics of astro- and geophysical objects and laboratory plasmas, is studied. In particular, this effect is responsible for the generation of the current directed along the axial magnetic field line in the toroidal reversed-field pinch (the so-called alpha effect). It is shown for the first time that a similar effect takes place in open magnetic confinement systems.

Fluctuations of the azimuthal and radial magnetic field in the startup plasma of the end system of the AMBAL-M tandem mirror system are measured by magnetic probes. An analysis of the spectra and radial profiles of the magnetic-field and density fluctuations shows that there is a correlation between these quantities, which can be explained in terms of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in a plasma stream flowing out of the gas-discharge source. The characteristic parameters of the stream inhomogeneities are estimated. The radial profile of the particle flux is determined from simultaneous measurements of the plasma density and radial magnetic field. The diffusion coefficient related to magnetic-field fluctuations is estimated.

In experimental studies of the startup plasma in the end system of the AMBAL-M device, it is found that a longitudinal electron current of similar to 1 kA flows along the plasma stream during the plasma-source discharge. The radial profiles of the current density in several cross sections are measured by a movable magnetic probe. Near the plasma source, the current density profile is annular in shape, which is related to the geometry of the discharge channel; as the distance from the source increases, the inner part of the plasma stream is gradually filled with the current.

Methods of production and properties of a hot initial plasma in the end cell of the Ambal-M fully axisymmetric tandem mirror device are experimentally studied. Plasma produced in the end mirror device (end cell) has an electron temperature of similar to 50 eV, an ion energy of similar to 200 eV, and an average density of 6 x 10(12) cm(-3). A plasma jet generated by the annular are gas-discharge source and located behind the magnetic mirror is used to produce the initial plasma. Electrostatic fluctuations with a broad spectrum occurring in the plasma jet cause stochastic ion heating and subsequent heating of electrons. The most decisive factor in creating the hot initial plasma in the end cell is the thermal insulation, which suppresses the electron heat exchange between the end cell and the transport region, The studies performed show that, at both the plasma periphery and the axis, electron thermal insulation is provided by a plasma potential that has a minimum at the input mirror, whereas, in the intermediate region around the axis, the heat transport from the end mirror device is almost absent because of the high average velocity of the electron flow in the input mirror of the device. It is discovered that a 1 kA longitudinal flow of transit electrons provides effective electron heating in the end minor device. Low-frequency plasma turbulence spectra are studied, the diffusion coefficients related to the electrostatic and magnetic transverse transport are determined, and the longitudinal losses of particles and energy are measured, The initial plasma produced is MHD stable in both the filling and decay stages. It is shown that the accumulation rate of trapped fast protons during the pulse injection of powerful beams of fast neutrals is sufficiently high.

Results from experimental studies aimed at increasing the temperature and energy in a plasma jet produced by a gas-discharge source are presented and used to optimize the operating conditions of the source. Hot-plasma jets with the following parameters are obtained: T-e similar or equal to 30-50 eV, T-i similar or equal to 200 eV, the plasma density n similar or equal to 5 X 10(13) cm(-3), and the specific power of the jet p similar or equal to 10 kW/cm(2). The possibility of obtaining even higher values of the parameters is demonstrated.