Abstract: Magnetic mirror and its derivatives hold the key to commercializing fusion energy. However, the axial particle loss and MHD (magnetohydrodynamics) interchange mode have impeded the development of mirror programs. Recently, a tandem mirror in combination with kinetic stabilizer has been proposed to cope with these two major hurdles. KMAX (Keda mirror with axisymmetricity), consisting of one central cell and two plug cells, is being built to fully investigate particle confinement and MHD instabilities. A new approach based on the success of RMF (rotating magnetic field) application in FRCs will be employed to extend the research area of tandem mirror. Despite fusion relevant experiments, KMAX will be also devoted to laboratory simulated space plasma, such as magnetic reconnection, Alfven wave heating and other fundamental processes in space plasmas.

Key words: magnetic mirror, plasma confinement, ICRH (ion cyclotron resonance heating), turbulence, MHD instability