Discharge characteristics of the spherical inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) device

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.640696· OSTI ID:561989

Miley, G H; Gu, Y; DeMora, J M; Stubbers, R A; Hochberg, T A ^[1]; Nadler, J H ^[2]; Anderl, R A ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States). Fusion Studies Lab.
2. Richland Community Coll., Decatur, IL (United States). Dept. of Physics
3. LITCO, Idaho Falls, ID (United States). Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab.

The University of Illinois inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) device provides 10{sup 7} 2.5 MeV F-F neutrons/second when operated with a steady-state deuterium discharge at 70 kV. Being compact and lightweight, the IEC potentially represents an attractive portable neutron source for activation analysis applications. The plasma discharge in the IEC is unique, using a spherical grid in a spherical vacuum vessel with the discharge formed between the grid and the vessel wall, while the {minus}70 kV grid (cathode) also serves to extract high-energy ions. Two key features of the IEC discharge are discussed: (1) the breakdown voltage characteristics as a function of pressure-grid/wall distance (pd), and (2) the formation of ion microchannels that carry the main ion flow through grid openings.

• OSTI ID: 561989
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 25, Issue 4; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCE TECHNOLOGY
40 CHEMISTRY
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
PLASMA PRODUCTION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES