Modeled sensitivity of multi-MA accelerator performance to electrode contaminant inventory

Bennett, Nichelle Lee; Welch, Dale R.

doi:10.1063/5.0276238

Modeled sensitivity of multi-MA accelerator performance to electrode contaminant inventory

Journal Article · Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0276238· OSTI ID:2584043

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Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Voss Scientific, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Significant particle-in-cell code development has enabled simulations of power flow in multi-MA accelerators to include the desorption of surface contaminants, their ionization into surface plasmas, and the impact of these plasmas on efficiency. The simulations base desorption on an Arrhenius equation, whose most significant unknown is the surface contaminant inventory. The sensitivity of power-flow simulations to this inventory is studied here using Sandia National Laboratories' Z accelerator with a 7-nH MagLIF load [Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)]. Simulations are conducted in 3D cylindrical coordinates for the current-adder, or “convolute,” region of Z and in 2D for the final feed only. Simulated contaminant inventories are varied from 1 to 32 monolayers (MLs) in 2D, and 2 to 4 ML in 3D. The results reveal sensitivities to the local ratio of E/B⁠. The high B-field, low E-field region near the short-circuit load is insensitive to the contaminant inventory, where assumed values of 4–32 ML change the load current by ≤ 2%, and agree with experiment to within 2% at peak current. A 1-ML value is the outlier, increasing the load current by 5%, but still within measurement uncertainty. In contrast, the relatively higher E-field, lower B-field convolute region has slower contaminant desorption and higher-magnitude E-field penetration of the surface plasmas. The current loss in the convolute region does increase with contaminant inventory. The loss assuming 4 ML is 12% larger than for 2 ML, with 4 ML being the better match to experiment.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 2584043

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2585597

Report Number(s):: SAND--2025-06828J; 1775565

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 32; ISSN 1070-664X; ISSN 1089-7674

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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