DuoPIGatron ion sources for PLT injectors

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:5366666

Tsai, C C; Stirling, W L; Haselton, H H; Davis, R C; Schechter, D E

Plasma heating requirements for the Princeton Large Torus (PLT) are set at about 1 MJ total beam energy for 3 MW beam power of energetic hydrogen (or deuterium) neutrals at 40 keV. To fulfill this design goal from four neutral beam injectors, the duoPlGatron ion source originally developed at ORNL has been modified, developed, and scaled-up to versions with 20-cm and/or 22-cm grid diameters. Utilizing the multipole line cusp magnetic field confinement for the ionizing electrons and created Philips Ionization Gauge (PIG) plasma, these sources generate a uniform (+-5 percent density variation over 23-cm diam) and dense plasma (about 2 x 10/sup 12/ cm/sup 3/ at the extraction surface). Such sources have been operated reliably to deliver a beam current exceeding 70 A of hydrogen ions at 40 keV. For such a beam condition the source is capable of running with an arc pulse of 0.5 sec. Moreover, the corresponding arc efficiency is very high, below 1.0 KW arc power per ampere of ion beam current. In this paper we describe the plasma generation, source characteristics and arc efficiency as functions of magnetic fields, gas pressure, and arc power (including the arc voltage and current). The other exciting feature, high proton yield (exceeding 80 percent), will be discussed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5366666
• Report Number(s): CONF-771029-63
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700205* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Fuel
Heating
& Injection Systems
BEAM INJECTION
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CURRENTS
CUSPED GEOMETRIES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ION SOURCES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
NEUTRAL ATOM BEAM INJECTION
NEUTRAL BEAM SOURCE
NEUTRAL BEAM SOURCES
OPEN CONFIGURATIONS
PENNING ION SOURCES
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PLT DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES