D. J. Rej

Experimental studies of field‐reversed configuration translation

In the FRX‐C/T experiment [Proceedings of the 9th Symposium for Engineering Problems of Fusion Research (IEEE, New York, 1981), p. 1751], field‐reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas have been formed in, and launched from, a field‐reversed theta‐pinch source and subsequently trapped in an adjacent confinement region. No destructive instabilities or enhanced losses of poloidal flux, particles, or thermal energy are observed for FRC total trajectories of up to 16 m. The observed translation dynamics agree with two‐dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. When translated into reduced external magnetic fields, FRC’s are observed to accelerate, expand, and cool in partial agreement with adiabatic theory. The plasmas reflect from an external mirror and after each reflection, the axial kinetic energy is reduced by approximately 50%. Because of this reduction, FRC’s are readily trapped without the need of pulsed gate magnet coils.

Surface modification of AISI-4620 steel with intense pulsed ion beams

A 300 keV, 30 kA, 1 μs intense beam ofcarbon, oxygen, and hydrogen ions is used for the surface treatment of AISI-4620 steel coupons, a common material used in automotive gear applications. The beam is extracted from a magnetically-insulated vacuum diode and deposited into the top 1 μm of the target surface. The beam-solid interaction causes a rapid melt and resolidification with heating and cooling rates of up to 1010 K/s. Treated surfaces are smoothed over 1 μm-scale lengths, but are accompanied by 1 μm-diameter craters and larger-scale roughening over ≥ 10 μm, depending on beam fluence and number of pulses. Treated surfaces are up to 1.8 × harder with no discernible change in modulus over depths of 1 μm or more. Qualitative improvements in the wear morphology of treated surfaces are reported.

Intense ion beam optimization and characterization with infrared imaging

We have developed two-dimensional calorimetry with infrared imaging of beam targets to optimize and measure the energy-density distribution of intense ion beams. The technique, which measures a complete energy-density distribution on each machine firing, has been used to rapidly develop and characterize two very different beams—a 400 keV beam used to study materials processing and an 80 keV beam used for magnetic fusion diagnostics. Results of measurements, using this technique, varying the diode applied magnetic field strength and geometry, anode material type and configuration, and anode-cathode gap spacing are presented and correlated with other observations. An assessment of calorimeter errors due to target ablation is made by comparison with Faraday cup measurements and computer modeling of beam-target interactions.

Axial dynamics in field-reversed theta pinches. II: Stability

Detailed stability studies are made with new diagnostics in the FRX‐C/LSM field‐reversed theta pinch [Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research (IAEA, Vienna, 1989), Vol. II, p. 517]. These studies seek the origin of a degradation of the confinement properties of field‐reversed configurations (FRC’s) that appears associated with strong axial dynamics during plasma formation. Several instabilities are observed, including rotational modes, interchanges, and tilt instabilities. Only the latter are strongly correlated with FRC confinement. Tilt instabilities are observed for FRC’s with larger average number of ion gyroradii (s∼3–5) and smaller separatrix elongations (e∼3–4). Coincidently, strong axial dynamics occurs for cases with larger s and smaller e values, through increases in either reversed bias field or fill pressure. These data provide some understanding of FRC stability. In agreement with finite Larmor radius theory, there is a regime of gross stability for the very kinetic and elongate...

Initial operation of a large‐scale plasma source ion implantation experiment

In plasma source ion implantation (PSII), a workpiece to be implanted is immersed in a weakly ionized plasma and pulsed to a high negative voltage. Plasma ions are accelerated toward the workpiece and implanted in its surface. A large‐scale PSII experiment has recently been assembled at Los Alamos, in which stainless steel and aluminum workpieces with surface areas over 4 m2 have been implanted in a 1.5 m diam, 4.6 m length cylindrical vacuum chamber. Initial implants have been performed at 50 kV with 20 μs pulses of 53 A peak current, repeated at 500 Hz, although the pulse modulator will eventually supply 120 kV pulses of 60 A peak current at 2 kHz. A 1000 W, 13.56 MHz capacitively coupled source produces nitrogen plasma densities in the 1015 m−3 range at neutral pressures as low as 0.02 mTorr. A variety of antenna configurations have been tried, with and without axial magnetic fields of up to 60 G. Measurements of sheath expansion, modulator voltage and current, and plasma density fill‐in following a pu...

Review of the Los Alamos FRX-C experiment

The FRX-C device is a large field-reversed theta pinch experiment with linear dimensions twice those of its FRX-A and FRX-B predecessors. It is used to form field-reversed configurations (FRCs), which are high-beta, highly prolate compact toroids. The FRX-C has demonstrated an R/sup 2/ scaling for particle confinement in FRCs, indicating particles are lost by diffusive processes. Particle losses were also observed to dominate the energy balance. When weak quadrupole fields were applied to stabilize the n = 2 rotational mode, FRC lifetimes >300..mu..s were observed. Detailed studies of the FRC equilibrium were performed using multichord and holographic interferometry. Measurements of electron temperature by Thomson scattering showed a flat profile and substantial losses through the electron channel. The loss rate of the internal poloidal flux of the FRC was observed to be anomalous and to scale less strongly with temperature than predicted from classical resistivity.

A zero-dimensional transport model for field-reversed configurations

A zero‐dimensional theoretical model is developed to study energy, particle, and magnetic flux confinement during the equilibrium phase in field‐reversed configurations. The plasma is heated by adiabatic compression from the external magnetic field and by ohmic dissipation. Energy is lost from lower‐hybrid‐drift induced particle transport, classical and anomalous thermal conduction, and impurity line radiation. As an example, the model is used to analyze data measured in the FRX‐C experiment.

Electron temperature measurements in the field-reversed configuration experiment FRX-C

Electron temperature data are presented from Thomson scattering measurements performed on field-reversed configuration plasmas generated in the FRX-C experiment. Two experimental conditions have been investigated, corresponding to initial deuterium fill pressures of 5 and 20 mtorr. At 5 mtorr, Te values of (175±25) eV are observed, which are nearly independent of time and radial position inside the separatrix. An electron power loss of approximately 80 MW is inferred. At 20 mtorr, Te values of 70–120 eV are measured and good agreement with radial pressure balance is obtained. This agreement indicates that radiation from low-Z impurity ions does not dominate the observed energy confinement.

Thermal Surface Treatment Using Intense, Pulsed Ion Beams

Surface treatment experiments using intense pulsed ion beams have demonstrated new capabilities for materials surface treatment. These experiments have confirmed corrosion resistance, surface hardening, amorphous layer and nanocrystalline grain size formation, metal surface polishing, controlled melt of ceramic surfaces, surface cleaning and oxide layer removal by rapid melting and resolidification. Deposition of beam energy in a thin surface layer allows melting of the layer with relatively small energies (1-10 J/cm 2 ) and allows rapid cooling (10 9 -10 10 K/sec) and resolidification of the melted layer by thermal diffusion into the underlying substrate. At higher intensities (≥20 J/cm 2 ), this technology can provide rapid ablation of material from targets followed by rapid, congruent deposition of polycrystalline thin films on substrates. This technology uses high energy pulsed (40–400 ns) ion beams to directly deposit energy in the top 2–20 micrometers of the surface of materials.

Magnetic insulation of secondary electrons in plasma source ion implantation

The uncontrolled loss of accelerated secondary electrons in plasma source ion implantation (PSII) can significantly reduce system efficiency and poses a potential x‐ray hazard. This loss might be reduced by a magnetic field applied near the workpiece. The concept of magnetically insulated PSII is proposed, in which secondary electrons are trapped to form a virtual cathode layer near the workpiece surface where the local electric field is substantially reduced. Subsequent electrons that are emitted can then be reabsorbed by the workpiece. Estimates of anomalous electron transport from microinstabilities are made. Insight into the process is gained with multidimensional particle‐in‐cell simulations.