THE OAK RIDGE THERMONUCLEAR PROGRAM--RECENT ADVANCES ON THE DCX

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1960 · IRE Trans. Nuclear Sci.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS2.1960.4315778· OSTI ID:4112345

Dunlap, J L

In the Oak Ridge thermonuclear experimert, 600-kev molecular ions of hydrogen or deuterium are injected into the median plane of a direct current magnetic mirror machine (DCX). A fraction of the molecular ions is dissociated (H/sup +//sub 2/ - H/sup +/ + H/sup 0/) as the ion beam passes through a high- energy carbon arc whose electrodes are locrted at each end of DCX. The magnetic field configuration is such that the 300-kev atomic ions thus created are trapped by virtue of the change in charge-to-mass ratio and enter a circular orbit concentric with the magnetic axis. The neutral atoms and the remaining undissociated molecular beam leave the machine. Loss processes, principally charge exchange collisions suffered by the circulating ions, have thus far prevented achieving the appreciable plasma density required for observable fusion reactions. Plasma densities in the order of lO/sup +10/ ions/cm/sup 3/ and mean containment times of 10 to 12 msec were observed. The experimental program at the present time is one of diagnostic measurements on the trapped ions and their environment, and of building up the plasma density by increasing the trapping rate and containment time. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-15-005739
• OSTI ID: 4112345
• Journal Information: IRE Trans. Nuclear Sci., Journal Name: IRE Trans. Nuclear Sci. Vol. Vol: NS-7, No. 4
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BEAMS
CARBON
CONFIGURATION
DENSITY
DEUTERIUM
ELECTRODES
HYDROGEN
INJECTION
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
PHYSICS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS