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Long Plasma Source for Heavy Ion Beam Charge Neutralization

Journal Article · · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physical Research A
OSTI ID:949209
Plasmas are a source of unbound electrons for charge neutralizing intense heavy ion beams to focus them to a small spot size and compress their axial length. The plasma source should operate at low neutral pressures and without strong externally-applied fields. To produce long plasma columns, sources based upon ferroelectric ceramics with large dielectric coefficients have been developed. The source utilizes the ferroelectric ceramic BaTiO{sub 3} to form metal plasma. The drift tube inner surface of the Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment (NDCX) is covered with ceramic material. High voltage ({approx} 8 kV) is applied between the drift tube and the front surface of the ceramics. A BaTiO{sub 3} source comprised of five 20-cm-long sources has been tested and characterized, producing relatively uniform plasma in the 5 x 10{sup 10} cm{sup -3} density range. The source was integrated into the NDCX device for charge neutralization and beam compression experiments, and yielded current compression ratios {approx} 120. Present research is developing multi-meter-long and higher density sources to support beam compression experiments for high energy density physics applications.
Research Organization:
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
Accelerator& Fusion Research Division
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
949209
Report Number(s):
LBNL-1593E
Journal Information:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physical Research A, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physical Research A
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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