Electron assisted glow discharges for conditioning fusion tokamak devices

Conference · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.576587· OSTI ID:5349606

Schaubel, K. M.; Jackson, G. L.

Glow discharge conditioning of tokamaks with graphite plasma-facing surfaces has been used to reduce impurities and obtain density control of the plasma discharge. However, a major operational disadvantage of glow conditioning is the high pressure required to initiate the glow discharge, e.g., {approx}70 mTorr for helium in DIII-D, which requires isolating auxiliary components that can not tolerate the high pressure. An electron-gun assisted glow discharge can lower breakdown pressure, possibly eliminating the necessity of isolating these auxiliary systems during glow discharge conditioning and allowing glow discharge operation at lower pressures. 11 refs., 5 figs.

• Research Organization: General Atomics, San Diego, CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-89ER51114
• OSTI ID: 5349606
• Report Number(s): GA-A-19809; CONF-891093--18; ON: DE90004104
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700201* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Blanket Engineering
CARBON
DEGASSING
DOUBLET REACTORS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC PROBES
ELECTRON GUNS
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
FIRST WALL
GLOW DISCHARGES
GRAPHITE
IMPURITIES
LANGMUIR PROBE
MINERALS
NONMETALS
PLASMA DENSITY
PROBES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR WALLS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TOKAMAK TYPE REACTORS