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

Author

Miley, G.H. ; Gu, Y. ; DeMora, J.M. ; Stubbers, R.A. ; Hochberg, T.A. ; Nadler, J.H. ; Anderl, R.A.

Author_Institution

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

Volume

2

fYear

1996

fDate

21-26 Jul 1996

Firstpage

654

Abstract

The inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) device provides 10 ⁷ 2.5-MeV D-D neutrons/second, when operated with a deuterium discharge at 70 kV. This potentially provides an important portable neutron source for various activation analysis applications. The discharge involved is unique, in that it uses a spherical grid in a spherical vacuum vessel. The discharge is struck between the grid and the vessel wall and the -70-kV grid also serves to extract high-energy ions. Two features of the 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

arcs (electric); discharges (electric); neutron activation analysis; neutron sources; 2.5 MeV; 70 kV; D; activation analysis applications; breakdown voltage characteristics; deuterium discharge; discharge; discharge characteristics; high-energy ions; ion microchannels; portable neutron source; spherical grid; spherical inertial electrostatic confinement device; spherical vacuum vessel; Breakdown voltage; Cathodes; Electrostatics; Fault location; IEC standards; Inertial confinement; Partial discharges; Solids; Steel; Wire;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Discharges and Electrical Insulation in Vacuum, 1996. Proceedings. ISDEIV., XVIIth International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Berkeley, CA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-2906-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/DEIV.1996.545445

Filename

545445