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Calibration of a direct nuclear activation diagnostic which uses boron nitride to measure energetic deuterium ions

Conference ·
OSTI ID:663216
;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  3. Ktech Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
A direct nuclear activation diagnostic for the measurement of the kinetic energy of deuterium ions in the energy range of 1 to 3 MeV has been successfully developed. This diagnostic is based on the fact that the ratio of two different thick target yields which are generated by the same incident ion species can be a sensitive function of incident ion energy. Targets for this diagnostic are made of {alpha}-boron nitride (BN) and use the two reactions: {sup 10}B(d,n){sup 11}C({beta}+) and {sup 14}N(d,n){sup 15}O({beta}+). As long as the BN material matrix remains constant, the ratio of thick target yields depends only on the deuterium ion energy and is independent of ion fluence and detector efficiency. Calibration of the diagnostic was accomplished by irradiating BN targets with deuterium beams of known ion kinetic energy and fluence. The calibrated diagnostic was then fielded to measure the voltage in a Plasma Opening Switch (POS). Electrical measurements of the POS voltage and the voltage inferred from the BN nuclear activation diagnostic were in good agreement.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
663216
Report Number(s):
SAND--98-0660C; CONF-980605--; ON: DE98003541; BR: DP0102010
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English