Reversed Field Pinch (RFP)
A toroidal magnetic confinement device in which the toroidal magnetic field self-reverses direction near the outer edge of the plasma column.
Governing formula
B_toroidal reverses direction near plasma edge (q < 1)
SI unit
T (Toroidal Field B_T)
In depth
Operates at safety factor q < 1 with high plasma currents. Spontaneous Taylor magnetic relaxation reverses edge toroidal magnetic fields, producing high plasma beta (β ~ 10–20%) with modest external magnetic field coils.
Examples in the real world
The Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) and RFX-mod reversed field pinch plasma experiments.