Measurements of diverging ion motion in an inertial electrostatic confinement device using Doppler spectroscopy

Jaap Hermens, R. Jaspers, J. Khachan

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Abstract

With the aim of determining the ion direction, Doppler spectroscopy is carried out in a Farnsworth fusor with a spherical cathode grid during star mode operation. The Doppler shift of Balmer-α radiation from excited deuterium atoms (D) is analyzed to find the kinetic energy spectrum. Diverging D is measured at a cathode voltage of -20 kV, with currents between 0.5 mA and 3.4 mA, and in the pressure regime of 1.6 Pa-2.6 Pa. D is produced during a charge exchange reaction of fast deuterium ions with the background gas. The measured spectra can only be formed via diverging ions due to momentum conservation during this charge exchange reaction. Dominant blue shifts coming from measurement locations inside microchannels moving toward the observer and red shifted spectra coming from microchannels moving away from the observer prove this diverging ion motion. A kinetic energy distribution of D over different longitudinal positions inside the microchannel is measured at a pressure of (1.7 ± 0.1) Pa. The results indicate an increase in D velocity from the center of the cathode toward the cathode edge. This can be explained by a virtual anode, which accelerates ions created in the center of the cathode outward. These results disagree with the converging ion model but could be explained by the hollow cathode model.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102703
Number of pages5
JournalPhysics of Plasmas
Volume26
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2019

Funding

The authors are grateful to the helpful discussions with Nico Ranson, Richard Bowden-Reid (University of Sydney), and Maximilian Messmer (University of Technology Eindhoven). This work was carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and received funding through FuseNet from the Euratom research and training program under Grant Agreement No. 633053. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. In addition, funding was provided by TU/e Fund International Experience.

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