Computational Advances in Charge Exchange Modeling of a Spherical IEC Device
Abstract
The spherical Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) device produces neutrons from the fusion of an electrostatically confined deuterium plasma. Charge-exchange (CX) collisions are an important energy sink in this fusion plasma. During these collisions, fast ions become high-energy neutrals, leaving behind thermal energy ions. The CX process represents a net transfer of energy from ions to neutrals, decreasing the fusion rate and the efficiency of the system. Maximizing the fusion neutron production rate and the IEC efficiency are essential for the further development of commercial fusion neutron sources. The Analytic Charge Exchange code was developed to show the effects of voltage, pressure, and cathode radius on the CX process in a spherical IEC. The code output includes values for the fusion rate, ion and neutral particle energy distributions, and average ion time-of-flight in the IEC. Results show a fusion scaling function that generally matches experimental results. Further insights about optimal operating pressure and the use of additional ion sources (e.g. electron emitters) can be drawn from these results. Such information will improve the design of future IEC fusion neutron sources.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 1999
- Bibcode:
- 1999APS..DPP.QP145D