An experimental investigation of current production by means of rotating magnetic fields

An investigation of current production by means of a rotating magnetic field is made in an experiment in which the technique is used to generate a theta-pinch- like distribution of field and plasma. Detailed measurements are made of both the generated unidirectional azimuthal electron current and the penetration of the rotating field into the plasma. The experimental results support the theoretical prediction that a threshold value of the amplitude of the applied rotating field exists for setting the electrons into rotation.