K. Shinto

Correlation between Negative Hydrogen Ion Production and Work Function of Plasma Grid Surface in a Cesium-Introduced Volume-Production-Type Negative Hydrogen Ion Source

The correlation between the work function of a plasma grid surface in a Cs-introduced volume-production-type negative hydrogen ion ( H-) source and the extracted H- current has been investigated experimentally. The quantum efficiency of a Cs/Mo surface has been measured as a function of the photon energy in a high-vacuum test chamber, and a relationship between the photoelectric work function and the quantum efficiencies at the wavelengths of an Ar+ laser has been obtained. Using this relationship, the work function of the plasma grid surface has been determined by measuring quantum efficiency using an Ar+ laser. When the increment of the H- current is plotted against the measured work function, an exponential dependence on the decrease of the work function is observed. The experimental result cannot be explained by a theoretical H- formation model when one assumes that H- are produced from H atoms leaving from the surface with the energy corresponding to the temperature of H atoms in the plasma. When H- are produced with the kinetic energy substantially larger than thermal energy, the theoretical result shows good agreement with the experimental result.

Confined alpha particle diagnostic system using an energetic He0 beam for ITER

The beam neutralization system for measurement of the spatial and velocity distributions of alpha particles of ITER plasmas was studied. As forward angle detection against the beam injection direction is required for effective neutralization, arrangement of the measurement system using possible ports in ITER configuration is proposed. The count rate of neutralized alpha particles produced by the double charge exchange interaction with energetic He0 beam particles injected is estimated. The ratios of signal to neutron-induced noise are evaluated. When a He0 beam produced by autodetachment from a 1–1.5MeV He− beam of 10mA is injected, the signal to noise ratio becomes greater than 1 at ρ<0.4, even without beam modulation. Usage of a lock-in technique at the frequency of radio-frequency quadrapole accelerator will make measurement at the outer region possible.

Optimization of a compact multicusp He+ ion source for double-charge-exchanged He− beam

Preliminary test bench results to study the beam quality extracted from a compact multicusp He+ ion source for He− beam production are reported. The bench is a part of the beam diagnostic system equipped with energy analyzers, emittance meters, focusing beam optics, an alkali-metal charge-exchange cell, a neutral particle energy analyzer, a double focusing magnetic momentum analyzer, a postaccelerator, and a drift tube. Utilizing the front end of the bench, the transverse emittance and the energy distribution function of a He+ beam extracted from a multi-line-cusp magnetic-field ion source 8cm in diameter and 9cm in length were measured. The results indicated that improvements in both formation of the plasma meniscus and reinforcement of pumping in the extraction region are necessary to produce a higher brightness He+ beam.

Characterization of scintillators for lost alpha diagnostics on burning plasma experiments

The characteristics of light output by ion beam irradiations under high ion fluxes have been measured for three kinds of scintillators: ZnS:Ag deposited on the glass plate, Y3Al5O12:Ce powder stiffened with a binder, and Y3Al5O12:Ce ceramics sintered at high temperature. The ion beam flux in the range from 1012to1013ions∕(cm2s) is irradiated to simulate the burning plasma experiments. The decrease of light output has been observed by long time ion irradiation. The deterioration of ZnS:Ag deposited scintillator is most serious. The deterioration has been improved for the scintillators of Y3Al5O12:Ce with a binder and that sintered. Their applications to ITER lost alpha diagnostics are discussed.

Operation and commissioning of IFMIF (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility) LIPAc injector

The objective of linear IFMIF prototype accelerator is to demonstrate 125 mA/CW deuterium ion beam acceleration up to 9 MeV. The injector has been developed in CEA Saclay and already demonstrated 140 mA/100 keV deuterium beam [R. Gobin et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85, 02A918 (2014)]. The injector was disassembled and delivered to the International Fusion Energy Research Center in Rokkasho, Japan. After reassembling the injector, commissioning has started in 2014. Up to now, 100 keV/120 mA/CW hydrogen and 100 keV/90 mA/CW deuterium ion beams have been produced stably from a 10 mm diameter extraction aperture with a low beam emittance of 0.21 π mm mrad (rms, normalized). Neutron production by D-D reaction up to 2.4 × 10(9) n/s has been observed in the deuterium operation.

Development of an angular-resolved momentum analyzer system to study particle reflections from solid surfaces

An experimental system designed to study systematically interactions of beams with solid surface is being developed. A small magnetic multicusp-type ion source is used to produce both positive and negative ions with a pair of removable filter magnets. The mass-separated extracted ions are then directed onto a solid target, and the angular distributions and energy spectra of the reflected ions are measured with a magnetic momentum analyzer. The performance of the system is tested by investigating the particle reflections from a polycrystalline W surface bombarded by low-energy (1–2 keV) H and O ions.

Angle-resolved energy distributions of He ions produced by backscattering of metastable He at low work function metal surface

An apparatus capable of measuring the angle-resolved energy distribution function of ions produced by backscattering at metal surfaces is designed and tested. To exclude noise due to other impurity ions and electrons from the signal of target ions, a water-cooled magnetic deflection-type momentum analyzer is installed on a rotating table in a vacuum chamber. In addition to the beam forming and beam diagnostics components, work function monitoring equipment and an ion source for surface cleaning are installed. Preliminary tests of the apparatus was conducted to measure He+ emission from neutral He beam injection onto a Mo surface. With an improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio, the apparatus can be used to measure the angle-resolved energy distribution function of He− produced at a metal surface by He beam injection.

Importance of electric field for H− extraction in a volume-type hydrogen negative ion sourcea)

The effect upon extraction of negative hydrogen ions (H(-)) due to electric field near the extractor hole of a H(-) source is studied experimentally and theoretically. Probe measurements show that the extraction electric field penetrates into the plasma in the region near the extractor hole. Based on this observation a three-dimensional H(-) trajectory calculation that takes into account the local electric field distribution near the plasma electrode has been carried out. The validity of the trajectory calculation was examined by comparing the results with experimentally measured changes in H(-) current detected by a Faraday cup due to irradiation of a pulse laser beam in the region close to the extractor hole. The calculation results qualitatively explain the changes in H(-) current observed in the experiment. The calculation results also predict that the amount of H(-) current passing through the extractor hole changes with the electric field: the penetration of the electric field substantially enhances the H(-) extraction current, because it produces an electric field to attract H(-) toward the extraction hole.

Development of a strongly focusing high-intensity He+ ion source for a confined alpha particle measurement at ITERa)

A strongly focusing high-intensity He(+) ion source has been designed and constructed as a beam source for a high-energy He(0) beam probe system for diagnosis of fusion produced alpha particles in the thermonuclear fusion plasmas. The He(+) beam was extracted from the ion source at an acceleration voltage of 18-35 kV. Temperature distributions of the beam target were observed with an IR camera. The 1/e-holding beam profile half-width was about 15 mm at optimum perveance (Perv) of 0.03 (I(beam)=2.4 A). A beam current about 3 A was achieved at an acceleration voltage of 26.7 kV with an arc power of 10 kW (Perv=0.023).

Installation and first operation of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility injector at the Rokkasho site

The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) linear IFMIF prototype accelerator injector dedicated to high intensity deuteron beam production has been designed, built, and tested at CEA/Saclay between 2008 and 2012. After the completion of the acceptance tests at Saclay, the injector has been fully sent to Japan. The re-assembly of the injector has been performed between March and May 2014. Then after the check-out phase, the production of the first proton beam occurred in November 2014. Hydrogen and deuteron beam commissioning is now in progress after having proceeded with the final tests on the entire injector equipment including high power diagnostics. This article reports the different phases of the injector installation pointing out the safety and security needs, as well as the first beam production results in Japan and chopper tests. Detailed operation and commissioning results (with H(+) and D(+) 100 keV beams) are reported in a second article.