Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
9845513 Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 2005 5 Pages PDF
Abstract
One key issue in heavy ion beam fusion (HIBF) is how to effectively focus high-current and high-perveance ion beams onto a small target area. Space charge neutralization is needed to prevent defocusing as the ion density compresses during focusing. The present study is concerned with the physics of space-charge neutralization by use of various concepts for injection of electrons into the ion beam in addition to plasma neutralization. To date the most widely studied approaches to neutralization use a preformed plasma or ionize a background gas in the beam line. However, these schemes alone face difficulties due to local non-uniformities in charge neutralization due to beam dynamic/focusing effects. Thus, two supplemental techniques are under study and will be discussed here. One involves axially injection of electrons created in a thin foil in the beam path. The other uses a magnetic field to guide the electrons into the direction of the beam path. Both techniques would be used in combination with conventional background plasma, providing added control of neutralization.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Physics and Astronomy Instrumentation
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