THE DCX-2 PROGRAM OF PLASMA ACCUMULATION BY HIGH ENERGY INJECTION

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Nuclear Fusion, Suppl.

OSTI ID:4823091

Bell, P R; Kelley, G G; Lazar, N H; Mackin, Jr, R J

The experimental program associated with a device (DCX-2) being assembled to exploit the DCX scheme of plasma accumulation by dissociation- trapping of highenergy molecular ions is described. The long particlecontainment time obtained in DCX-1 and a consideration of known instabilities indicate that a high-temperature plasma limited in density by mirror losses may be obtained in DCX-2, provided no new instabilities occur. The apparatus provides for an extended trajectory of the injected beam in the plasma region, permitting the use of much more tenuous dissociation media. Advantage is taken of the ion-pumping action of the plasma to secure pumping speeds of approximately 0.5 million liters per second. The shape and strength of the magnetic field provide containment of the trapped atomic ions governed by the adiabatic approximation. A summary is given of the theory of plasma accumulation in a machine of this type, and the requirements imposed upon the system parameters are evaluated. Existing elements of the apparatus include: a 600-kev accelerator and ion source designed to obtain 400 ma of ions in a well-organized beam, the source itself producing a continuous beam of 340 ma at 80 kev; almost-fully-ionized lithium and deuterium arcs with temperatures in the range of 10 to 50 ev. (In the deuterium arc a degree of ionization as large as 99% may be obtained. Lithium arcs of large Li/sup +2/ content can be operated in gas pressures as low as 4 x 10/sup -7/ mm Hg. Means are found to adjust the density of the breakup column of the arc from very low densities to as high as 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/); and a beam-injection channel, shielded against the 12-kgauss field and highly compensated to minimize perturbation of the surrounding field. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-023233
• OSTI ID: 4823091
• Journal Information: Nuclear Fusion, Suppl., Journal Name: Nuclear Fusion, Suppl.
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACCELERATORS
CONFINEMENT
CONTAINMENT TIME
CURRENTS
DCX DEVICES
DECOMPOSITION
DENSITY
DEUTERIUM
DISTURBANCES
ELECTRIC ARCS
ENERGY
ENERGY RANGE
GASES
INJECTION
ION BEAMS
ION SOURCES
IONIZATION
KEV RANGE
LITHIUM
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
MOLECULES
PHYSICS
PLANNING
PLASMA
PRESSURE
PUMPS
STABILITY
TEMPERATURE
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
TRAPS