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

Author

Miley, George H. ; Gu, Yibin ; DeMora, John M. ; Stubbers, Robert A. ; Hochberg, Timothy A. ; Nadler, Jon H. ; Anderl, Robert A.

Author_Institution

Fusion Studies Lab., Illinois Univ., Urbana, IL, USA

Volume

25

Issue

4

fYear

1997

fDate

8/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

733

Lastpage

739

Abstract

The University of Illinois inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) device provides 10⁷ 2.5 MeV D-D 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 -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

Keywords

electrostatic discharge; glow discharges; neutron activation analysis; neutron sources; plasma diagnostics; plasma inertial confinement; vacuum breakdown; -70 kV; 2.5 MeV; D; University of Illinois; activation analysis applications; breakdown voltage characteristics; discharge characteristics; grid openings; high-energy ions; ion flow; ion microchannels; neutron source; plasma discharge; pressure-grid/wall distance; spherical grid; spherical inertial electrostatic confinement; spherical vacuum vessel; vessel wall; Activation analysis; Deuterium; Electrostatics; Fault location; IEC standards; Inertial confinement; Neutrons; Plasma applications; Plasma confinement; Steady-state;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.640696

Filename

640696