Ion divergence and the stability of magnetically insulated diodes

Conference · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:7052645

Slutz, S A

Cold fluid equilibria for magnetically insulated ion diodes are unstable. The interaction of these unstable waves with electrons leads to loss above a threshold wave amplitude. The waves also interact with ions producing both divergence and energy spread. The magnitude of these effects depends strongly on the diode equilibrium and the wave parameters. Since, previous stability analyses ignored the virtual cathode and the charge-neutral region, both important features of Applied-B ion diode equilibria, we have investigated diode stability with these features included. The nature of ion diode instability is changed dramatically. Ultimately one would like to control ion divergence and energy spread, which depend on the wave amplitudes. We present test particle calculations of wave-electron interactions within the diode. Comparison of our results with 3-D PIC simulations, indicate that wave amplitudes late in the simulations are just large enough to produce electron loss. This suggests that a reduction in ion divergence might result from decreasing the wave amplitude required to induce electron loss. This and other possible approaches for reducing ion divergence are discussed. 12 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 7052645
• Report Number(s): SAND-89-2907C; CONF-9007111--10; ON: DE90014565
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
ACCELERATORS
BEAMS
CONFINEMENT
ELECTRON LOSS
HEAVY ION ACCELERATORS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
ION BEAM FUSION REACTORS
ION BEAMS
ION SOURCES
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA SIMULATION
SIMULATION
STABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS