Princeton field-reversed configuration
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The Princeton field-reversed configuration (PFRC) is a series of experiments in plasma physics, an experimental program to evaluate a configuration for a fusion power reactor, at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The experiment probes the dynamics of long-pulse, collisionless,[1] low s-parameter[2] field-reversed configurations (FRCs) formed with odd-parity rotating magnetic fields.[3][4] FRCs are the evolution of the Greek engineer's Nicholas C. Christofilos original idea of E-layers which he developed for the Astron fusion reactor.[5] The PFRC program aims to experimentally verify the physics predictions that such configurations are globally stable and have transport levels comparable with classical magnetic diffusion.[2] It also aims to apply this technology to the Direct Fusion Drive concept for spacecraft propulsion.[6]