I. V. Shikhovtsev

Characterization of 1 MW, 40 keV, 1 s neutral beam for plasma heating

Neutral beam with geometrical focusing for plasma heating in moderate-size plasma devices has been developed in Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk. When operated with hydrogen, the neutral beam power is 1 MW, pulse duration is 1 s, beam energy is 40 keV, and angular divergence is 1.2 degrees. Initial ion beam is extracted and accelerated by triode multiapertures ion-optical system. To produce 1 MW neutral beam, about 40 A proton current is extracted with nominal current density of 320 mA/cm(2). Ion-optical system has 200 mm diameter grids with 44% transparency. The grids have inertia cooling and heat is removed between the pulses by water flowing in channels placed on periphery of the grids. A plasma emitter for ion extraction is produced by rf-plasma box. Ion species mix of rf plasma source amounts to 70%, 20%, and 10% of H(+), H(2)(+), and H(3)(+) ions, respectively, by current. Heavy impurities contribute less than 0.3%.

Multiaperture negative ion source

The long-pulse multiaperture surface-plasma source with negative ion production on a cesiated grid is under construction at Budker Institute. The ion source includes RF plasma driver, an expansion chamber with multicusp magnetic filed, an external magnetic filter and a four-electrode ion-optical system for beam extraction and acceleration. The projected parameters of the ion source are: beam current 1.5 A, beam energy 120 keV, pulse duration 100 s, RF power in plasma 40 kW, hydrogen filling pressure < 0.5 Pa, e/H− ratio 1:1, H− ions emission current density 30 mA/cm2.

Upgrade of the diagnostic neutral beam injector for the TCV tokamak

Abstract A diagnostic neutral beam injector (DNBI) [CRPP report LRP 710/01, CRPP-EPFL, 2001; EPS Conf. Contr. Fusion Plasma Phys., 25A (2001) 365] has been installed on tokamak a configuration variable (TCV) [Plasma Phys. Control Fusion, 36 (1994) B277; Plasma Phys. Control Fusion, 43 (2001) A161; Plasma Phys. Control Fusion, to be published] for the purpose of providing local measurements of plasma ion temperature, velocity and impurity density by Charge eXchange recombination spectroscopy (CXRS) [EPS Conf. Contr. Fusion Plasma Phys., 25A (2001) 365]. The system recently underwent a technical upgrade, which allowed to increase the full neutral beam current density by a factor of two (from 0.5 to 1 A at 52 keV injection energy) and to extend the operational range of the diagnostic. This was achieved by means of a new, larger ion source, with an increased extraction area and corresponding enhancements of the power supplies.

Inductively driven surface-plasma negative ion source for N-NBI use (invited)

The long-pulse surface-plasma source prototype is developed at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics for negative-ion based neutral beam injector use. The essential source features are (1) an active temperature control of the ion-optical system electrodes by circulation of hot thermal fluid through the channels, drilled in the electrode bodies, (2) the concaved transverse magnetic field in the extraction and acceleration gaps, preventing the electrons trapping and avalanching, and (3) the directed cesium deposition via distribution tubes adjacent to the plasma grid periphery. The long term effect of cesium was obtained just with the single cesium deposition. The high voltage strength of ion-optical system electrodes was improved with actively heated electrodes. A stable H(-) beam with a current ∼1 A and energy 90 keV was routinely extracted and accelerated.

Multi-slit triode ion optical system with ballistic beam focusing.

Multi-slit triode ion-optical systems with spherical electrodes are of interest for formation of intense focused neutral beams for plasma heating. At present, two versions of focusing multi-slit triode ion optical system are developed. The first ion optical system forms the proton beam with 15 keV energy, 140 A current, and 30 ms duration. The second ion optical system is intended for heating neutral beam injector of Tokamak Configuration Variable (TCV). The injector produces focused deuterium neutral beam with 35 keV energy, 1 MW power, and 2 s duration. In the later case, the angular beam divergence of the neutral beam is 20-22 mrad in the direction across the slits of the ion optical system and 12 mrad in the direction along the slits.

Development of a negative ion-based neutral beam injector in Novosibirska)

A 1000 keV, 5 MW, 1000 s neutral beam injector based on negative ions is being developed in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk in collaboration with Tri Alpha Energy, Inc. The innovative design of the injector features the spatially separated ion source and an electrostatic accelerator. Plasma or photon neutralizer and energy recuperation of the remaining ion species is employed in the injector to provide an overall energy efficiency of the system as high as 80%. A test stand for the beam acceleration is now under construction. A prototype of the negative ion beam source has been fabricated and installed at the test stand. The prototype ion source is designed to produce 120 keV, 1.5 A beam.

Effect of plasma grid bias on extracted currents in the RF driven surface-plasma negative ion source

Extraction of negative ions from the large inductively driven surface-plasma negative ion source was studied. The dependencies of the extracted currents vs plasma grid (PG) bias potential were measured for two modifications of radio-frequency driver with and without Faraday screen, for different hydrogen feeds and for different levels of cesium conditioning. The maximal PG current was independent of driver modification and it was lower in the case of inhibited cesium. The maximal extracted negative ion current depends on the potential difference between the near-PG plasma and the PG bias potentials, while the absolute value of plasma potential in the driver and in the PG area is less important for the negative ion production. The last conclusion confirms the main mechanism of negative ion production through the surface conversion of fast atoms.

Beam formation by ion optical system with slit finite length apertures.

Ion beam formation by four-electrode ion optical system with slit finite length apertures is considered. Results of numerical simulations by two and three dimensional codes shown that accurate ion beam formation in slit aperture with semicircular ends can be provided. In experimental studies of beam formation in single slit ion optical system angular beam divergences of 0.53 degrees across the slit and 0.35 degrees along it were measured. Studied slit ion optical system will be used for ion beam formation in diagnostic neutral injector for large W-7X stellarator.

Negative ion production in the RF multiaperture surface-plasma source

The experiments on negative hydrogen ion beam production in a multi-aperture long-pulse surface-plasma source are described. H- ions are produced on the surface of a plasma grid covered by cesium and illuminated by fast plasma particles. The source uses a radio-frequency driver to generate plasma. A composite magnet system made of external permanent magnets confines and filters electrons in the plasma region, and deflects them in the extraction area. A multiaperture, multi-electrode ion optical system is used for beam formation. The electrode heating and cooling during long pulses is accomplished by circulating a heat transfer fluid through channels drilled in the electrodes bodies. H- ions extraction through a single aperture and 21 apertures was performed and studied. A stable H- beam with the current up to 0.7 A, energy up to 74u2005kV, and pulse duration up to 7 s was routinely obtained

Results of upgrade of the diagnostic neutral beam injector for the TCV tokamak

A diagnostic neutral beam injector has been developed at BINP for beam emission spectroscopy measurements in TCV tokamak, Lausanne, Switzerland. The beam has been commissioned in 1999. It operates with a beam energy of up to 50 keV, equivalent neutral beam current (for hydrogen) up to 1 A and pulse duration up to 2 s. Plasma in the ion source is produced by inductively coupled 4.6 MHz radio-frequency discharge. Ions are extracted and accelerated by a four-grid ion optical system with 163 circular 4 mmu200ai.d. apertures. The beam is to provide local measurements of plasma ion temperature, velocity, and impurity densities through active charge exchange recombination spectroscopy. The beam parameters of the diagnostic injector enabled to carry out the measurements at plasma density up to 5×1019u2009m−3. In order to improve signal to noise ratio in the charge exchange recombination spectroscopy (CXRS) measurements and extend the operational density up to 1020u2009m−3, the diagnostic injector has been upgraded in 2002. A...