Study of fusion regimes in an inertial electrostatic confinement device using the new eclipse disk diagnostic

Abstract

New diagnostics are required to understand the physics operation of an inertial electrostatic confinement ͑IEC͒ device. In an attempt to understand the fusion source regimes within the IEC device, a new diagnostic called the eclipse disk has been introduced. This diagnostic was used to exploit the byproduct protons' energy difference between the deuterium-deuterium ͑D-D͒ and deuterium-an isotope of helium with two protons and one neutron ͑D-3 He͒ reactions to study the contributions of the protons generated from various source regimes. These source regimes are divided into five categories namely: converged core, embedded, beam background, volume, and wall-surface sources. The eclipse disk diagnostic has provided the first confirmed evidence that D-3 He reactions are predominantly embedded reactions. It has been observed that at the present operating power levels ͑6-10 kW͒ most of the D-D reactions occur in the volume of the chamber caused by the charge exchanged neutrals, and the converged core contribution is significant only for D-D reactions. Since the branching ratio for the proton and neutron generation in a D-D fusion reaction is ϳ50%, it is inferred that the proton to neutron count ratio is a better parameter to monitor than either proton or neutron counts measured alone while studying the source regimes. This parameter may also be used for studying the potential wells within the cathode grid.

Inertial electrostatic confinement and DD fusion at interelectrode media of nanosecond vacuum discharge. PIC simulations and experiment

“…The miniature size (r VC ≈ 0.2 cm) as well as rather deep PW (like ϕ ≈ 50-60 keV) corresponds to the extremely high fusion power densities ∼ϕ 2 r 4 VC demonstrated at the present moment for the chosen system [2,13] of table-top IECF. In the general case, besides beam-beam reactions (neutron yield estimated above), the other channels of IEC syntheses [15] like beam-background (neutrals), fast neutrals-background, beam-deuterium clusters, beam-anode (with deuterium) also have to be taken into account to estimate total neutron yield. In summary, fusion power of ∼10 13 n/sec or higher would be achievable.…”

Consolidated electron emission effects in an IEC device

“…The recirculating ions across the face of the single loop grid form a line source (more precisely a cylindrical source). The eclipse disc diagnostic [34,35] was used to measure the distribution of the fusion rate across the loop grid. As the name suggests the eclipse disc blocks (eclipses) the fusion reaction is a particular region and the proton counts from the remaining region is measured.…”