Ion beam transport in laser-initiated discharge channels

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.331182· OSTI ID:5523146

Olsen, J N; Leeper, R J

Inertial-confinement fusion reactors with light ion-beam drivers will require that several intense ion beams propagate a few meters from separate diodes to a single target. Each beam would be confined and guided by a laser-initiated z discharge in a background gas. In this experiment we have studied the transport of a proton beam in such a laser channel. A pulsed, line-tuned, CO/sub 2/ laser triggers the discharge in 4--20 Torr of ammonia gas. When the discharge current reaches peak value, an ion beam is injected from a pinch-reflex ion diode on the Hydra accelerator. The transported proton beam is detected by nuclear activation of carbon targets. Total current transport efficiencies of up to 50% were achieved in 13--45 kA, one-meter-long discharges. The most reproducible results were found for discharge currents of less than 30 kA; framing photography shows that the channel is unstable for kink modes at higher currents. Conditions in the discharge which led to this kink instability are examined, and the implications for reactor studies are considered. Operational data for the pinch-reflex diode operating in a high-impedance mode are also presented.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87115
• OSTI ID: 5523146
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 53:5; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700103* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Kinetics
AMMONIA
BEAM TRANSPORT
BEAMS
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CONFINEMENT
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
GAS LASERS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
INSTABILITY
ION BEAMS
IONS
KINK INSTABILITY
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
LIGHT IONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NUCLEAR REACTION ANALYSIS
PHOTOGRAPHY
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS