Recent progress in magnetic mirror plasma parameters relevant to fusion applications

An alternative approach to magnetic plasma confinement for thermonuclear fusion applications is discussed. A relatively simple axially symmetric configuration with magnetic mirrors is described and it´s physical and engineering advantages are outlined with regard to its applications as a high power fusion neutron source (NS). In the latest experiments with combined neutral beam and electron cyclotron resonance heating of plasma in the gas dynamic trap machine (GDT, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics) a significant increase of electron temperature (T_e) was demonstrated. The paper presents the essential results of these experiments: a two-three fold increase of T_e - up to the values of 0.6 keV and an almost doubled thermonuclear neutron yield with application of additional heating.