T. J. Renk

Materials modification using intense ion beams

Pulsed intense ion beams have been developed for applications including surface modification and alloying, and thin-film and nanopowder synthesis. Rapid thermal processing with ions is quite promising for large-scale commercial use, due to the high specific ion energy deposition (joules per cubic centimeter) without reflection, and to the relative efficiency and low cost of the pulsed power ion-beam drivers compared to other high-kinetic energy alternatives. We discuss in this paper the basis for the use of ions in materials processing and the methods of beam formation and impingement on material to be treated, and give examples of recent and ongoing work in materials processing.

Development Path for Z-Pinch IFE

Abstract The long-range goal of the Z-Pinch IFE program is to produce an economically-attractive power plant using high-yield z-pinch-driven targets (~3GJ) with low rep-rate per chamber (~0.1 Hz). The present mainline choice for a Z-Pinch IFE power plant uses an LTD (Linear Transformer Driver) repetitive pulsed power driver, a Recyclable Transmission Line (RTL), a dynamic hohlraum z-pinch-driven target, and a thick-liquid wall chamber. The RTL connects the pulsed power driver directly to the z-pinch-driven target, and is made from frozen coolant or a material that is easily separable from the coolant (such as carbon steel). The RTL is destroyed by the fusion explosion, but the RTL materials are recycled, and a new RTL is inserted on each shot. A development path for Z-Pinch IFE has been created that complements and leverages the NNSA DP ICF program. Funding by a U.S. Congressional initiative of

The Science and Technologies for Fusion Energy With Lasers and Direct-Drive Targets

4M for FY04 through NNSA DP is supporting assessment and initial research on (1) RTLs, (2) repetitive pulsed power drivers, (3) shock mitigation [because of the high yield targets], (4) planning for a proof-of-principle full RTL cycle demonstration [with a 1 MA, 1 MV, 100 ns, 0.1 Hz driver], (5) IFE target studies for multi-GJ yield targets, and (6) z-pinch IFE power plant engineering and technology development. Initial results from all areas of this research are discussed.

Improvement of surface properties by modification and alloying with high-power ion beams

We are carrying out a multidisciplinary multi-institutional program to develop the scientific and technical basis for inertial fusion energy (IFE) based on laser drivers and direct-drive targets. The key components are developed as an integrated system, linking the science, technology, and final application of a 1000-MWe pure-fusion power plant. The science and technologies developed here are flexible enough to be applied to other size systems. The scientific justification for this work is a family of target designs (simulations) that show that direct drive has the potential to provide the high gains needed for a pure-fusion power plant. Two competing lasers are under development: the diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPPSL) and the electron-beam-pumped krypton fluoride (KrF) gas laser. This paper will present the current state of the art in the target designs and lasers, as well as the other IFE technologies required for energy, including final optics (grazing incidence and dielectrics), chambers, and target fabrication, injection, and tracking technologies. All of these are applicable to both laser systems and to other laser IFE-based concepts. However, in some of the higher performance target designs, the DPPSL will require more energy to reach the same yield as with the KrF laser.

IFE chamber dry wall materials response to pulsed X-rays and ions at power-plant level fluences ☆

Surface treatment and alloying experiments with Al, Fe, and Ti-based metals as well as Si wafers were conducted on the Repetitive High Energy Pulsed Power-I (RHEPP-I) accelerator [0.8 MV, 20 Ω, 80 ns full width at half maximum (FWHM) pulse width, up to 1 Hz repetition rate] at Sandia National Laboratories. Ions are generated by the magnetically confined anode plasma (MAP) gas-breakdown active anode, which can yield a number of different beam species including H, C, N, O, Kr, and Xe, depending upon the injected gas. Enhanced hardness and wear resistance have been produced by treatment of 440C stainless steel, by the mixing of a thin-film Pt coating into Ti-6Al-4V alloy, and of a Si coating into Al 6061-T6 alloy (Al-1.0Mg-0.6Si). Mixing of a thin-film Hf layer into Al 6061-T6 has improved its corrosion resistance by as much as four orders of magnitude in electrochemical testing, compared with untreated and uncoated Al6061. Processing of Si was used to validate simulation codes. When treated with nitrogen io...

Surface modification of ultra-high strength polyethylene fibers for enhanced adhesion to epoxy resins using intense pulsed high-power ion beam

We have begun a collaborativ ei nvestigation of the response of candidate first-wall inertial fusion energy (IFE) reactor chamber drywall materials to X-rays on the Z facility, and to ions on RHEPP-1, both located at Sandia National Laboratories. Dose levels are comparable to those anticipated in future direct-drive reactors. Due to the 5/10 Hz repetition rate expected in such reactors, per-pulse effects such as material removal must be negligible. The primary wall materials investigated here are graphite and tungsten in various forms. After exposure on either RHEPP or Z, materials were analyzed for roughening and/or material removal (ablation) as a function of dose. Graphite is observed to undergo significant ablation/sublimation in response to ion exposure at the 3/4 J/cm 2 level, significantly below doses expected in future dry-wall power plants. Evidence of thermomechanical stresses resulting in material loss occurs for both graphite and tungsten, and is probably related to the pulsed nature of the energy delivery. These effects are not seen in typical magnetic fusion energy (MFE) conditions where these same kinds of materials are used. Results are presented for thresholds below which no roughening or ablation occurs. Use of graphite in a ‘velvet’ two-dimensional form may mitigate the effects seen with the flat material, and alloying tungsten with rhenium may reduce its roughening due to the increased ductility of the alloy. # 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Atomic emission spectroscopy in high electric fields

The effects of intense pulsed high power ion beam (HPIB) treatment of ultra-high strength polyethylene (UHSPE) fibers on the fiber/epoxy resin interface strength were studied. For this study, argon ions were used to treat Spectra™ 1000 (UHSPE) fibers in vacuum. Chemical and topographical changes of the fiber surfaces were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic wettability measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fiber/epoxy resin interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was evaluated by the single fiber pull-out test. The FTIR-ATR and XPS data indicate that oxygen was incorporated onto the fiber surface as a result of the HPIB treatment. The wettability data indicate that the fibers became more polar after HPIB treatment and also more wettable. Although the total surface energy increased only slightly after treatment, the dispersive component decreased significantly while the aci...

Ion beam surface treatment: a new technique for thermally modifying surfaces using intense, pulsed ion beams

Pulsed‐power driven ion diodes generating quasi‐static, ∼10 MV/cm, 1‐cm scale‐length electric fields are used to accelerate lithium ion beams for inertial confinement fusion applications. Atomic emission spectroscopy measurements contribute to understanding the acceleration gap physics, in particular by combining time‐ and space‐resolved measurements of the electric field with the Poisson equation to determine the charged particle distributions. This unique high‐field configuration also offers the possibility to advance basic atomic physics, for example by testing calculations of the Stark‐shifted emission pattern, by measuring field ionization rates for tightly‐bound low‐principal‐quantum‐number levels, and by measuring transition‐probability quenching.

Use of a radial self-field diode geometry for intense pulsed ion beam generation at 6 MeV on Hermes III

The emerging capability to produce high average power (10-300 kW) pulsed ion beams at 0.2-2 MeV energies is enabling us to develop a new, commercial-scale thermal surface treatment technology called Ion Beam Surface Treatment (IBEST). This new technique uses high energy, pulsed (/spl les/500 ns) ion beams to directly deposit energy in the top 1-20 micrometers of the surface of any material. The depth of treatment is controllable by varying the ion energy and species. Deposition of the energy in a thin surface layer allows melting of the layer with relatively small energies (1-10 J/cm/sup 2/) and allows rapid cooling of the melted layer by thermal conduction into the underlying substrate. Typical cooling rates of this process (109 K/sec) are sufficient to cause amorphous layer formation and the production of non-equilibrium microstructures (nanocrystalline and metastable phases). Results from initial experiments confirm surface hardening, amorphous layer and nanocrystalline grain size formation, corrosion resistance in stainless steel and aluminum, metal surface polishing, controlled melt of ceramic surfaces, and surface cleaning and oxide layer removal as well as surface ablation and redeposition. These results follow other encouraging results obtained previously in Russia using single pulse ion beam systems. Potential commercialization of this surface treatment capability is made possible by the combination of two new technologies, a new repetitive high energy pulsed power capability (0.22 MV, 25-50 kA, 60 ns, 120 Hz) developed at SNL, and a new repetitive ion beam system developed at Cornell University.

Ablation rate estimation of inertial fusion reactor candidate material with intense ion beam and X-ray

We investigate the generation of intense pulsed focused ion beams at the 6 MeV level using an inductive voltage adder (IVA) pulsed-power generator, which employs a magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL). Such IVA machines typical run at an impedance of few tens of Ohms. Previous successful intense ion beam generation experiments have often featured an “axial” pinch-reflex ion diode (i.e., with an axial anode-cathode gap) and operated on a conventional Marx generator/water line driver with an impedance of a few Ohms and no need for an MITL. The goals of these experiments are to develop a pinch-reflex ion diode geometry that has an impedance to efficiently match to an IVA, produces a reasonably high ion current fraction, captures the vacuum electron current flowing forward in the MITL, and focuses the resulting ion beam to small spot size. A new “radial” pinch-reflex ion diode (i.e., with a radial anode-cathode gap) is found to best demonstrate these properties. Operation in both positive and negat...