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This Defense Intelligence Agency reference document, dated 10 March 2010, covers inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion. It was produced in FY 2009 under the DIA's Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications (AAWSA) program. The report focuses on work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and reviews IEC basics, experiments, theory and applications such as neutron sources, explosives detection and space propulsion. It concludes by proposing a breakeven experiment for p-11B fusion that uses a hydrogen plasma simulation.
“The Advance”12 pages
UNCLASSIFIED/ ,SFIHl 8FFIIItliL '1181!! 8HLV These studies did not yet include differential pumping so that number of recirculation passes by an ion, [3, was low, roughly 2, due to major charge exchange losses. The injected ion current, I, with one gun was only ~ 50 mA. Still, based on measurements of neutrons emitted using deuterium fuel, the Q (fusion energy gain/energy in) was order of 10·6 which is remarkable for such a small device. These results, plus supporting computer simulation studies, show that the scale-up of this device to 12 injector guns plus adding strong differential pumping, could potentially achieve breakeven. The proposed ion injected IEC device with 12 guns is shown schematically in Figure 6.3. The key to achieving breakeven conditions in this device is to inject ions with good focus and the desired angular momentum. The RF ion gun has a unique magnetic nozzle to achieve that. Electrons are simulateously introduced in a measured fashion. This eliminates the need for a grid by formation of a deep potential well (ion trap). Also, differential pumping between the guns and the main chamber provides the high vacuum needed to avoid charge exchange. This configuration is highly non-Maxwellian due to the beam dominated nature of the trapped ions. Figure 6,2. IEC System With Radio Frequency Ion Gun (Although, as pointed out in the disuccion of L. Chacon's work, thermalized ions build up and additional quasi- Maxwellian distriution in the trap). Still, detailed analysis such as done by Momota and Kim (discussed earlier) shows that the beam ion momentum provided sufficient "stiffness" to the system to maintain stability. This assumes, however, very precise control is maintained over the energy and angular momentum of injected ions and a balanced supply of electrons is provided. An RF ion injector capable of such operation has been demonstrated at UIUC as discussed earlier. Figure 6.3. Multiple Ion Gun Concept 63 _,,• »nbe,,!ll )!;l\r7 , 1 )" !""''''' "·,di partoLarnumd~mbcr - l j ~Lmeub, RI· iec,eratM Figure 6.4. Differentially Pumped RF-Driven Ion Gun. Six guns shown for simplicity, but twelve are proposed for the breakeven study. UNCLASSIFIED,'~P8"1 8PPll!l"'I! l!l!il! 8111!¥
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Report, from the dia collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 72 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.