The object of active mode stabilization experiments is to develop a sufficiently comprehensive, experimentally validated, theoretical model of active stabilization in thermonuclear grade plasmas that can be used to design stabilization systems for future thermonuclear devices. A method of developing a facility for performing these experiments was investigated that would use the existing Princeton Beta Experiment-Modified (PBX-M) facility located at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

The basic discharge for the active mode stabilization facility would be a symmetric doubly diverted "D" shaped discharge that will carry currents up to 1 MA. In addition, the hardware would have the capability of producing asymmetric singly diverted discharges. The internal hardware of the PBX-M vacuum vessel would be modified to accommodate these configurations and enable the production "D" shaped discharges of reasonable volume. The internal modifications would include: 1) removal of the pusher coil and inner cone passive stabilizing structure, 2) relocation of the passive ring stabilizing structure and two diverter field coils vertically away from the mid-plane, 3) replacement of the upper and lower cylinder passive stabilizing components with a continuous inboard stabilizing structure that is also compatible with a combline antenna, and 4) addition of both resistive and tearing mode active suppression coil arrays.

This paper will describe the modifications proposed to convert the PBX-M facility into an active mode suppression experimental facility and in particular the designs for both the active resistive and tearing mode suppression coils.

*This work supported by U.S. DOE Contract No. DE-AC02-76-CHO3073.