M. Tuszewski

Conceptual design of the D-3He reactor artemis

AbstractA comprehensive design study of the D-3He-fueled field-reversed configuration (FRC) reactor Artemis is carried out for the purpose of proving its attractive characteristics and clarifying the critical issues for a commercial fusion reactor. The FRC burning plasma is stabilized and sustained in a steady equilibrium by means of preferential trapping of D-3He fusion-produced energetic protons. A novel direct energy converter for 15-MeV protons is also presented. On the bases of consistent fusion plasma production and simple engineering, a compact and simple reactor concept is presented. The D-3He FRC power plant offers a most attractive prospect for energy development. It is environmentally acceptable in terms of radioactivity and fuel resources, and the estimated cost of electricity is low compared with a light water reactor. Critical physics and engineering issues in the development of the D-3He FRC reactor are clarified.

A high density field reversed configuration (FRC) target for magnetized target fusion: First internal profile measurements of a high density FRC

Magnetized target fusion (MTF) is a potentially low cost path to fusion, intermediate in plasma regime between magnetic and inertial fusion energy. It requires compression of a magnetized target plasma and consequent heating to fusion relevant conditions inside a converging flux conserver. To demonstrate the physics basis for MTF, a field reversed configuration (FRC) target plasma has been chosen that will ultimately be compressed within an imploding metal liner. The required FRC will need large density, and this regime is being explored by the FRX–L (FRC-Liner) experiment. All theta pinch formed FRCs have some shock heating during formation, but FRX–L depends further on large ohmic heating from magnetic flux annihilation to heat the high density (2–5×1022 m−3), plasma to a temperature of Te+Ti≈500 eV. At the field null, anomalous resistivity is typically invoked to characterize the resistive like flux dissipation process. The first resistivity estimate for a high density collisional FRC is shown here. Th...

Measurement of loss of DT fusion products using scintillator detectors in TFTR

A poloidal array of MeV ion loss probes previously used to measure DD fusion product loss has been upgraded to measure the loss of alpha particles from DT plasmas in TFTR. The following improvements to the system have been made in preparation for the use of tritium in TFTR: (1) relocation of detectors to a neutronshielded enclosure in the basement to reduce neutron-induced background signals; (2) replacement of ZnS:Cu (P31) scintillators in the probes with the Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}0{sub 12}:Ce(P46) variety to minimize damage and assure linearity at the fluxes anticipated from DT plasmas; and (3) shielding of the fiber optic bundles which carry the fight from the probes to the detectors to reduce neutron- and gamma-induced light within them. In addition to the above preparations, the probes have been absolutely calibrated for alpha particles by using the Van de Graaf accelerator at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Alpha particle losses from DT plasmas have been observed, and losses at the detector 901 below the midplane are consistent with first orbit loss.

FRX-L: A field-reversed configuration plasma injector for magnetized target fusion

We describe the experiment and technology leading to a target plasma for the magnetized target fusion research effort, an approach to fusion wherein a plasma with embedded magnetic fields is formed and subsequently adiabatically compressed to fusion conditions. The target plasmas under consideration, field-reversed configurations (FRCs), have the required closed-field-line topology and are translatable and compressible. Our goal is to form high-density (1017 cm−3) FRCs on the field-reversed experiment-liner (FRX-L) device, inside a 36 cm long, 6.2 cm radius theta coil, with 5 T peak magnetic field and an azimuthal electric field as high as 1 kV/cm. FRCs have been formed with an equilibrium density ne≈(1 to 2)×1016 cm−3, Te+Ti≈250 eV, and excluded flux ≈2 to 3 mWb.

DIAMONDLIKE CARBON DEPOSITION ON SILICON USING RADIO-FREQUENCY INDUCTIVE PLASMA OF AR AND C2H2 GAS MIXTURE IN PLASMA IMMERSION ION DEPOSITION

Diamondlike carbon (DLC) was deposited on silicon using a plasma immersion ion deposition (PIID) method. Inductive radio-frequency plasma sources were used to generate Ar and C2H2 plasmas at low gas pressures ranging from 0.04 to 0.93 Pa. The film stress and hardness were sharply dependent upon bias voltage at an operating pressure of 0.04 Pa. A maximum hardness of 30 GPa and compressive stress of 9 GPa was observed at a pulsed bias of −150 V bias (carbon energy of 80 eV). The mechanical properties of DLC films are correlated with UV Raman peak positions which infer sp3-bonded carbon contents.

Simplified diamagnetic techniques for a field‐reversed theta‐pinch plasma

Diamagnetic measurements of a field‐reversed theta‐pinch plasma are performed with a simplified diagnostic consisting of either a single‐flux loop and several magnetic probes or magnetic probes only. Numerical and experimental evidence of the validity of these techniques is presented.

Inductive plasma sources for plasma implantation and deposition

External and reentrant radio frequency inductive plasma sources are developed for plasma ion implantation and deposition processes in a 1.8 m/sup 3/ vacuum vessel. Plasma densities in the range 10/sup 16/-10/sup 17/ m/sup -3/ desirable for the above processes. External plasma sources could not yield the required plasma densities because of high particle losses in the transition region between the source and the main vessel. The particle losses are clarified through experiments and analysis, with and without multipole magnetic confinement. Reentrant plasma sources eliminate transmission losses and yield high plasma densities with good spatial uniformity.

Compact mass spectrometer for plasma discharge ion analysis

A mass spectrometer and methods for mass spectrometry which are useful in characterizing a plasma. This mass spectrometer for determining type and quantity of ions present in a plasma is simple, compact, and inexpensive. It accomplishes mass analysis in a single step, rather than the usual two-step process comprised of ion extraction followed by mass filtering. Ions are captured by a measuring element placed in a plasma and accelerated by a known applied voltage. Captured ions are bent into near-circular orbits by a magnetic field such that they strike a collector, producing an electric current. Ion orbits vary with applied voltage and proton mass ratio of the ions, so that ion species may be identified. Current flow provides an indication of quantity of ions striking the collector.

Planar inductively coupled plasmas operated with low and high radio frequencies

Planar inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) powered with 13.56 MHz radio frequency (RF) are used increasingly by the semiconductor industry for close-coupled etching processes. Two planar ICPs operated with 0.46 and 13.56 MHz RF are described. Low-pressure argon discharges are compared in the same vacuum chamber. The two planar ICPs generate nearly identical plasmas, within experimental uncertainties, for similar gas pressures and RF powers. The ICP operation proves significantly easier with low RF frequency.

Scintillator studies with MeV charged particle beams

Thin scintillators used as detectors of escaping fusion products in the TFTR tokamak are studied with Van de Graaf beams of 3‐MeV protons and 3.5‐MeV alphas. ZnS scintillators are found generally adequate for the D–D experiments performed up to now, marginal for near‐term D–T experiments because the emitted light saturates at alpha fluxes greater than 1010 cm−2 s−1, and totally inadequate for future ignited plasmas. Other scintillators have been tested that have lower light efficiencies but much better properties at high fluxes. In particular, the P46 scintillator appears to be an excellent choice for future experiments.