Progress toward a microsecond duration, repetitive, intense-ion beam accelerator
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
- Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
A number of intense ion beam applications are emerging requiring repetitive high-average-power beams. These applications include ablative deposition of thin films, rapid melt and resolidification for surface property enhancement, advanced diagnostic neutral beams for the next generation of Tokamaks, and intense pulsed-neutron sources. In the Physics Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the authors are developing a 250 keV, 15 kA, 1 {micro} duration, 1--30 Hz intense-ion beam accelerator called CHAMP (Continuous High Average-Power Microsecond Pulser). The accelerator will use a magnetically insulated extraction diode in ballistically focused geometry. The 450 cm{sup 2} active plasma anode can utilize any gaseous species allowing selection of the ion penetration depth to optimize various materials applications, and allowing the use of hydrogen isotopes for D-T fusion neutron production. A key system parameter, the pulse duration, was chosen from a study of overall system electrical efficiency including plasma formation and magnetic-field energy requirements, scaling of diode performance form the Los Alamos Anaconda accelerator, thermal transport modeling of beam energy deposition in targets, and electrical engineering considerations. The one-microsecond-pulse duration selected allows the use of commercial thyratron switches for the acceleration pulsed-power system and a system architecture akin to a high-power radar modulator or eximer laser drive. They will use a set of parallel lumped-element Blumlein circuits and a step-up pulse transformer to supply the diode acceleration voltage. Power to the gas-puff and plasma formation circuits, at anode potential, will be supplied through bifilar windings wound around the transformer core. Results from characterization of the anode plasma source will be presented.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 428025
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960634--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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