Juan Caneses

Plasma source development for fusion-relevant material testing

Plasma-facing materials in the divertor of a magnetic fusion reactor have to tolerate steady state plasma heat fluxes in the range of 10 MW/m2 for ∼107 s, in addition to fusion neutron fluences, which can damage the plasma-facing materials to high displacements per atom (dpa) of ∼50 dpa. Materials solutions needed for the plasma-facing components are yet to be developed and tested. The material plasma exposure experiment (MPEX) is a newly proposed steady state linear plasma device designed to deliver the necessary plasma heat flux to a target for testing, including the capability to expose a priori neutron-damaged material samples to those plasmas. The requirements of the plasma source needed to deliver the required heat flux are being developed on the Proto-MPEX device which is a linear high-intensity radio-frequency (RF) plasma source that combines a high-density helicon plasma generator with electron- and ion-heating sections. The device is being used to study the physics of heating overdense plasmas i...

RF compensation of double Langmuir probes: modelling and experiment

An analytical model describing the physics of driven floating probes has been developed to model the RF compensation of the double langmuir probe (DLP) technique. The model is based on the theory of the RF self-bias effect as described in Braithwaites work [1], which we extend to include time-resolved behaviour. The main contribution of this work is to allow quantitative determination of the intrinsic RF compensation of a DLP in a given RF discharge. Using these ideas, we discuss the design of RF compensated DLPs. Experimental validation for these ideas is presented and the effects of RF rectification on DLP measurements are discussed. Experimental results using RF rectified DLPs indicate that (1) whenever sheath thickness effects are important overestimation of the ion density is proportional to the level of RF rectification and suggest that (2) the electron temperature measurement is only weakly affected.

Wave modeling in a cylindrical non-uniform helicon discharge

A radio frequency (RF) field solver based on Maxwells equations and a cold plasma dielectric tensor is em- ployed to describe wave phenomena observed in a cylindrical non-uniform helicon discharge. The experiment is carried out on a recently built linear plasma-material interaction machine: the MAGnetized Plasma In- teraction Experiment (MAGPIE) [B. D. Blackwell, J. F. Caneses, C. Samuell, J. Wach, J. Howard, and C. S. Corr, submitted on 25 March 2012 to Plasma Sources Science and Technology], in which both plasma density and static magnetic field are functions of axial position. The field strength increases by a factor of 15 from source to target plate, and plasma density and electron temperature are radially non-uniform. With an enhancement factor of 9.5 to the electron-ion Coulomb collision frequency, 12% reduction in the antenna radius, and the same other conditions as employed in the experiment, the solver produces axial and radial profiles of wave amplitude and phase that are consistent with measurements. Ion-acoustic turbulence, which can happen if electron drift velocity exceeds the speed of sound in magnetized plasmas, may account for the factor of 9.5 used to match simulated results with experimental data. To overcome the single m vacuum solu- tion limitations of the RF solver, which can only compute the glass response to the same mode number of the antenna, we have adjusted the antenna radius to match the wave field strength in the plasma.(not finished because of the limited number of characters, please see the full paper)

Progress in the Development of a High Power Helicon Plasma Source for the Materials Plasma Exposure Experiment

Abstract Proto-MPEX is a linear plasma device being used to study a novel RF source concept for the planned Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX), which will address plasma-materials interaction (PMI) for nuclear fusion reactors. Plasmas are produced using a large diameter helicon source operating at a frequency of 13.56 MHz at power levels up to 120 kW. In recent experiments the helicon source has produced deuterium plasmas with densities up to ~6 × 1019 m–3 measured at a location 2 m downstream from the antenna and 0.4 m from the target. Previous plasma production experiments on Proto-MPEX have generated lower density plasmas with hollow electron temperature profiles and target power deposition peaked far off axis. The latest experiments have produced flat Te profiles with a large portion of the power deposited on the target near the axis. This and other evidence points to the excitation of a helicon mode in this case.

Collisional damping of helicon waves in a high density hydrogen linear plasma device

In this paper, we investigate the propagation and damping of helicon waves along the length (50 cm) of a helicon-produced 20 kW hydrogen plasma ( 1–2 1019 m−3, 1–6 eV, H2 8 mTorr) operated in a magnetic mirror configuration (antenna region: 50–200 G and mirror region: 800 G). Experimental results show the presence of traveling helicon waves (4–8 G and 10–15 cm) propagating away from the antenna region which become collisionally absorbed within 40–50 cm. We describe the use of the WKB method to calculate wave damping and provide an expression to assess its validity based on experimental measurements. Theoretical calculations are consistent with experiment and indicate that for conditions where Coulomb collisions are dominant classical collisionality is sufficient to explain the observed wave damping along the length of the plasma column. Based on these results, we provide an expression for the scaling of helicon wave damping relevant to high density discharges and discuss the location of surfaces for plasma-material interaction studies in helicon based linear plasma devices.

Helicon antenna radiation patterns in a high-density hydrogen linear plasma device

Antenna radiation patterns in the vicinity of a helicon antenna are investigated in hydrogen plasmas produced in the MAGPIE linear plasma device. Using a uniform cold-plasma full-wave code, we model the wave physics in MAGPIE and find good agreement with experimental wave measurements. We show for the first time which antenna elements in a helicon device couple most strongly to the plasma and discuss the physical mechanism that determines this effect. Helicon wavefields in the near field of the antenna are best described in terms of the group velocity and ray direction, while far from the antenna, helicon wavefields behave like plane waves and are best described in terms of eigen-modes. In addition, we present recent 2D axis-symmetric full-wave simulations of the 120 kW helicon source in ProtoMPEX [Rapp et al., IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 44(12), 3456–3464 (2016); Caughman et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. Vac. Surf. Films 35, 03E114 (2017); and Goulding et al., Fusion Sci. Technol. 72(4), 588–594 (2017)] ( n e ∼...

Helicon plasma ion temperature measurements and observed ion cyclotron heating in proto-MPEX

The Prototype-Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) linear plasma device is a test bed for exploring and developing plasma source concepts to be employed in the future steady-state linear device Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) that will study plasma-material interactions for the nuclear fusion program. The concept foresees using a helicon plasma source supplemented with electron and ion heating systems to reach necessary plasma conditions. In this paper, we discuss ion temperature measurements obtained from Doppler broadening of spectral lines from argon ion test particles. Plasmas produced with helicon heating alone have average ion temperatures downstream of the Helicon antenna in the range of 3 ± 1 eV; ion temperature increases to 10 ± 3 eV are observed with the addition of ion cyclotron heating (ICH). The temperatures are higher at the edge than the center of the plasma either with or without ICH. This type of profile is observed with electrons as well. A one-dimensional RF anten...

Observations of electron heating during 28 GHz microwave power application in proto-MPEX

The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure Experiment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory utilizes a variety of power systems to generate and deliver a high heat flux plasma onto the surface of material targets. In the experiments described here, a deuterium plasma is produced via a ∼100 kW, 13.56 MHz RF helicon source, to which ∼20 kW of 28 GHz microwave power is applied. The electron density and temperature profiles are measured using a Thomson scattering (TS) diagnostic, and indicate that the electron density is centrally peaked. In the core of the plasma column, the electron density is higher than the cut-off density (∼0.9 × 1019 m−3) for the launched mixture of X- and O-mode electron cyclotron heating waves to propagate. TS measurements indicate electron temperature increases from ∼5 eV to ∼20 eV during 28 GHz power application when the neutral deuterium pressure is reduced below 0.13 Pa (∼1 mTorr.).

Plasma flow measurements in the Prototype-Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) and comparison with B2.5-Eirene modeling

The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a linear plasma device that combines a helicon plasma source with additional microwave and radio frequency heating to deliver high plasma heat and particle fluxes to a target. Double Langmuir probes and Thomson scattering are being used to measure local electron temperature and density at various radial and axial locations. A recently constructed Mach-double probe provides the added capability of simultaneously measuring electron temperatures ( T e), electron densities ( n e), and Mach numbers (M). With this diagnostic, it is possible to infer the plasma flow, particle flux, and heat flux at different locations along the plasma column in Proto-MPEX. Preliminary results show Mach numbers of 0.5 (towards the dump plate) and 1.0 (towards the target plate) downstream from the helicon source, and a stagnation point (no flow) near the source for the case where the peak magnetic field was 1.3 T. Measurements of particle flow and ne and Te profiles are discussed. The extensive coverage provided by these diagnostics permits data-constrained B2.5-Eirene modeling of the entire plasma column, and comparison with results of modeling in the high-density helicon plasmas will be presented.

Differential pumping requirements for the light-ion helicon source and heating systems of Proto-MPEX

The physics of electron and ion heating of high-density deuterium helicon plasmas (>3  × 10 19 m−3) in the Proto-Material Plasma Exposure Experiment linear device are under investigation. Theoretical estimates indicate that for efficient heating, discharges with very low neutral gas content ( ≪0.1 Pa) in the heating sections are required to minimize collisional losses and charge exchange interactions with neutrals. However, this requirement is typically not compatible with the neutral gas pressures (1–2 Pa) commonly used in high-density, light-ion helicon sources. To satisfy these competing requirements, differential pumping techniques are needed. In this paper, results are presented that demonstrate the production of high-density discharges (2–6  × 10 19 m−3) with very low neutral gas content ( 75%) in the heating sections. Results indicate that the best fueling location is upstream of the plasma source. We elaborate on the key aspects that must be considered to produce these discharges: (1) fueling location, radio-frequency pulse length, and magnetic field configuration, (2) flow rate and timing of the gas injection, and (3) use of conductance-limiting elements.The physics of electron and ion heating of high-density deuterium helicon plasmas (>3  × 10 19 m−3) in the Proto-Material Plasma Exposure Experiment linear device are under investigation. Theoretical estimates indicate that for efficient heating, discharges with very low neutral gas content ( ≪0.1 Pa) in the heating sections are required to minimize collisional losses and charge exchange interactions with neutrals. However, this requirement is typically not compatible with the neutral gas pressures (1–2 Pa) commonly used in high-density, light-ion helicon sources. To satisfy these competing requirements, differential pumping techniques are needed. In this paper, results are presented that demonstrate the production of high-density discharges (2–6  × 10 19 m−3) with very low neutral gas content ( 75%) in the heating sections. Results indicate that the best fueling location is upstream of the plasma source. We elaborate on the key aspects that must be cons...