Upgrade of the MIT Linear Electrostatic Ion Accelerator (LEIA) for nuclear diagnostics development for Omega, Z and the NIF

Journal Article · Sun Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3703315· OSTI ID:22072281

Sinenian, N; Manuel, M J -E; Zylstra, A B; Rosenberg, M; Waugh, C J; Rinderknecht, H G; Casey, D T; Sio, H; Ruszczynski, J K; Zhou, L; Johnson, M Gatu; Frenje, J A; Seguin, F H; Li, C K; Petrasso, R D ^[1]; Ruiz, C L; Leeper, R J ^[2]

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1. Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
2. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)

The MIT Linear Electrostatic Ion Accelerator (LEIA) generates DD and D{sup 3}He fusion products for the development of nuclear diagnostics for Omega, Z, and the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Significant improvements to the system in recent years are presented. Fusion reaction rates, as high as 10{sup 7} s{sup -1} and 10{sup 6} s{sup -1} for DD and D{sup 3}He, respectively, are now well regulated with a new ion source and electronic gas control system. Charged fusion products are more accurately characterized, which allows for better calibration of existing nuclear diagnostics. In addition, in situ measurements of the on-target beam profile, made with a CCD camera, are used to determine the metrology of the fusion-product source for particle-counting applications. Finally, neutron diagnostics development has been facilitated by detailed Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport (MCNP) modeling of neutrons in the accelerator target chamber, which is used to correct for scattering within the system. These recent improvements have resulted in a versatile platform, which continues to support the existing nuclear diagnostics while simultaneously facilitating the development of new diagnostics in aid of the National Ignition Campaign at the National Ignition Facility.

• OSTI ID: 22072281
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 83, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM PROFILES
CALIBRATION
CAMERAS
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
CONTROL SYSTEMS
D-D REACTORS
D-HE REACTORS
ELECTROSTATIC ACCELERATORS
ION SOURCES
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON TRANSPORT
OMEGA FACILITY
TARGET CHAMBERS
US NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY