  As a new spherical tokamak (ST) designed to simplify engineering requirements
of a possible future fusion power source, the EXL-50 experiment features a low
aspect ratio (A) vacuum vessel (VV), encircling a central post assembly
containing the toroidal field coil conductors without a central solenoid.
Multiple electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) resonances are located
within the VV to improve current drive effectiveness. Copious energetic
electrons are produced and measured with hard X-ray detectors, carry the bulk
of the plasma current ranging from 50kA to 150kA, which is maintained for more
than 1s duration. It is observed that over one Ampere current can be maintained
per Watt of ECRH power issued from the 28-GHz gyrotrons. The plasma current
reaches Ip>80kA for high density (>5e18me-2) discharge with 150kW ECHR heating.
An analysis was carried out combining reconstructed multi-fluid equilibrium,
guiding-center orbits of energetic electrons, and resonant heating mechanisms.
It is verified that in EXL-50 a broadly distributed current of energetic
electrons creates smaller closed magnetic-flux surfaces of low aspect ratio
that in turn confine the thermal plasma electrons and ions and participate in
maintaining the equilibrium force-balance.
