Feasibility of multi-Mev neutral beams of light atoms for heating and current drive in magnetically confined plasmas

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.571518· OSTI ID:5418634

Grisham, L R; Post, D E; Mikkelsen, D R

We explore the advantages and problems of using neutral beams formed from negative ions A<30 that have been accelerated to 1--2 MeV/amu. Due to the very high energies, the required ion currents are small. We discuss possible production methods to yield adequate (0.1-1.0 A/source) currents of Li/sup -/, C/sup -/, O/sup -/, or Si/sup -/, which would be accelerated by electric-quadrupole-focused rf accelerators such as the LASL RFQ or the BNL MEQALAC. We investigate system design questions, including vacuum pumping, pressure restrictions in the accelerator, different possible neutralization methods, and efficiency. Compared to D/sup 0/ injection at 150--200 keV, this technique allows greatly reduced vacuum pumping requirements, much higher beam density (which should permit small cross section beam ducts through the blanket), and better plasma penetration, but at the expense of lower accelerator power efficiency because the required combination of current, voltage, and location near the confinement device render electrostatic acceleration impractical.

• Research Organization: Princeton University, Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08544
• DOE Contract Number: ACO2-76-CHO3073
• OSTI ID: 5418634
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 20:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
42 ENGINEERING
ANIONS
BEAM NEUTRALIZATION
BEAM PRODUCTION
BEAM INJECTION HEATING
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
MONTE CARLO METHOD
VACUUM SYSTEMS
EFFICIENCY
CARBON 12 BEAMS
LITHIUM 7 BEAMS
NEUTRAL BEAM SOURCES
OXYGEN 16 BEAMS
SILICON 28 BEAMS
ACCELERATORS
DESIGN
DEUTERIUM
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON DENSITY
ION BEAM INJECTION
ION BEAMS
LIGHT IONS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MEV RANGE 01-10
NEUTRAL ATOM BEAM INJECTION
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PUMPING
BEAM INJECTION
BEAMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CURRENTS
ENERGY RANGE
HEATING
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
IONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEV RANGE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PLASMA HEATING
SIMULATION
STABLE ISOTOPES
700205* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Fuel
Heating
&amp; Injection Systems
700101 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
Heating
&amp; Production
420700 - Engineering- Vacuum Engineering- (-1987)