Flashover lithium ion source development for large pulsed power accelerators
The Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator II (PBFA II), a light-ion pulsed power accelerator intended for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) applications, is currently under construction at Sandia National Laboratories. The accelerator will deliver a 30 MV, 5 MA lithium beam from an Applied-B diode to drive an ICF target. The ion source for this diode will require a thin (approx.1 mm), dense (10/sup 16/ cm/sup -2/) anode plasma layer of singly ionized lithium over an anode area of 10/sup 3/ cm/sup 2/. One type of source being investigated is the flashover ion source, which generates the anode plasma via vacuum flashover of a lithium-bearing dielectric material. Experiments with a LiF flashover source on the 0.03 TW Nereus accelerator have shown that contaminant ions account for as much as 70% of the extracted ion beam current. To overcome this, we have explored in-diode cleaning of the externally prepared anode surface by glow discharge cleaning and vacuum baking as well as in-diode preparation of the anode surface by vacuum evaporation of the lithium dielectric. Lithium-bearing dielectric materials which have been investigated include LiF, LiI, LiNO/sub 3/, and Li/sub 3/N. These techniques have resulted in a two to threefold improvement in the extracted lithium ion purity. As a result, a glow-discharge cleaned LiF flashover source will be used for initial pulsed-power testing on PBFA II.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5726587
- Journal Information:
- J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States) Vol. 4:3; ISSN JVTAD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
ACCELERATORS
BEAM PRODUCTION
BEAMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONFINEMENT
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
EVAPORATION
FABRICATION
FILMS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
ION BEAMS
ION SOURCES
IONS
LITHIUM 7 BEAMS
LITHIUM IONS
MATERIALS
PARTICLE BEAM FUSION ACCELERATOR
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
THIN FILMS
VACUUM EVAPORATION