Conversion of plasma energy into electrical pulse by magnetic flux compression

A conceptual study of magnetic flux compression inside a cylindrical coil by an expanding inertial fusion plasma sphere across the magnetic field produced by the coil itself have been performed numerically using a two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. The concept may find application in inertial fusion energy (IFE) system as a direct energy conversion scheme to convert a part of fusion plasma kinetic energy into pulsed electrical energy. Important theoretical and technical issues that has to be addressed are discussed. Preliminary theoretical analysis are given for the analysis of MHD interchange instabilities of expanding plasma across magnetic field. Overall efficiency of the system is determined numerically for a typical set of initial plasma and system parameters. Ultrahigh coil inter-turn voltages are predicted. Therefore, the application of magnetic self-insulation to avoid coil inter-turn break-down is considered. Also, we have analysed the system performance with different load conditions.     

Experimental Study of the Effect of Applied Magnetic Field on Plasma Properties of Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering

An experimental study of the effect of applied magnetic field on the properties of the plasma and electrostatic oscillations in an unbalanced magnetron sputtering discharge was carried out. The apparatus consists of a magnetron sputtering target, using the conventional magnetic field configuration, and a coaxial coil around the target for an applied axial magnetic field. The dependencies of plasma parameters on the coil current were studied by two Langmuir probes. The resonance properties of electrostatic oscillations were observed. The results indicate that the applied magnetic field affects the plasma properties for the coil current in a range of 0 to 8 A. The frequency bandwidth of the electrostatic oscillations in the unbalanced magnetron sputtering plasma is in a range of 0 to 300 kHz. From the spectrum analysis, the eigenfrequency near the target is in a range of 20 to 50 kHz under typical experimental conditions where all the magnetic field, pressure, and power etc are able to have full impact on the spectrum characteristics. The calculated value of the electron temperature as per an ion acoustic standing wave pattern inside the magnetic trap is in good agreement with the experimental result.     

Fabrication and absolute calibration of B-dot probe for magnetic field measurement on a high power laser facility

The fabrication and absolute calibration of a B-dot probe is employed to measure the pulsed magnetic field at the Shenguang-II high power laser facility. Copper enameled silk with a cross section diameter of 0.1 mm is used to wind the one-turn coil with a 1 mm diameter. Two coils are paired and reversely linked to their respective circuits to form a differential B-dot probe that is sealed in and protected by a quartz shell. This B-dot probe is experimentally calibrated and then used to measure the pulsed magnetic field in laser targeting experiments at the Shenguang-II high power laser facility. Signals show a high performance of this B-dot probe. The common mode noise can be effectively canceled out by the differential pair. The magnetic field of over 300 T can be extrapolated at the location close to the target.     

Numerical simulation and experiment of error field measurement using luminous trace of electron beam in SST-1

In contrast to the earlier experiments conducted in other machines,here,in SST-1 the error field measurement experiment is performed with a filled gas pressure ～8×10~(-4) mbar which helped to create a luminescent toroidal beam of electron path originated due to impact excitation and guided by the toroidal magnetic field.Beam path deviations are observed and recorded from radial and top ports using visible range cameras.Such creation and detection of the electron beam path differs from the earlier works where the gun emitted electron beam deviation in ultrahigh vacuum was detected on a collector-grid/fluorescent screen.In the present experiment,large beam deviations were observed.Later investigation of the experimental set-up reveals existence of a possible source of radial electric field in between the source and the vacuum vessel which are separately grounded.Thus,to understand the observed phenomena,experiments are numerically modeled with deviated TF coil set,PF coil set and the electron source location.A particle tracing code is used to follow the electron path in the magnetic field generated by the coil set of interest.Simulation results suggest that the large deviation corresponds to the E×B drifts and not due to the large field errors.Toroidally averaged field errors of the SST-1 TF coils at toroidal field of B_0=15 kG are negligibly small～B_0×10~(-6) or less,which should not adversely affect the plasma performance.     

Effects of pulsed magnetic field on density reduction of high flow velocity plasma sheath

A three-dimensional model is proposed in this paper to study the effect of the pulsed magnetic field on the density distribution of high flow velocity plasma sheath. Taking the typical parameters of plasma sheath at the height of 71 km as an example, the distribution characteristics and time evolution characteristics of plasma density in the flow field under the action of pulsed magnetic field, as well as the effect of self-electric field on the distribution of plasma density, are studied. The simulation results show that pulsed magnetic field can effectively reduce the density of plasma sheath. Meanwhile, the simulation results of three-dimensional plasma density distribution show that the size of the density reduction area is large enough to meet the communication requirements of the Global Position System(GPS) signal. Besides, the location of density reduction area provides a reference for the appropriate location of antenna. The time evolution of plasma density shows that the effective density reduction time can reach 62% of the pulse duration, and the maximum reduction of plasma density can reach 55%. Based on the simulation results, the mechanism of the interaction between pulsed magnetic field and plasma flow field is physically analyzed. Furthermore, the simulation results indicate that the density distributions of electrons and ions are consistent under the action of plasma self-electric field.However, the quasi neutral assumption of plasma in the flow field is not appropriate, because the self-electric field of plasma will weaken the effect of the pulsed magnetic field on the reduction of electron density, which cannot be ignored. The calculation results could provide useful information for the mitigation of communication blackout in hypersonic vehicles.     

Eddy current effects in a high field dipole

Eddy currents produced by a time-varying magnetic field will introduce time delay and thus affect field quality. This effect leads to drifting of the beam position over time, especially for a compact synchrotron.Simulations and measurements of different dipoles have been performed, to investigate the time delay and field quality. The simulations are conducted using OPERA software. The measurements are conducted using a long coil and Hall sensor. All results show that the magnetic field deviation is up to 0.4% for the dipole with stainless steel endplates. The simulations show that the main sources of eddy current are the field saturation effect and the field component Bz, introduced by the bedstead-type coil. Field correction using a power supply is adopted to reduce the deviation to less than 0.02%.     

Combined effects of ambient gas pressures and magnetic field on laser plasma expansion dynamics

In this work,we investigated the influence of air gas pressures on the expansion features of nanosecond laser ablated aluminum plasma in the absence and presence of a nonuniform magnetic field using fast photography.A particular emphasis was given to the plume dynamics(shape,size) with the combined effects of ambient gas pressures and an external magnetic field.Free expansion,sharpening effect,and hemi-spherical structures of the aluminum plasma were observed without a magnetic field under different gas pressures.Analysis of the resulting plume images with the combined effects of air gas pressures and a magnetic field show significant changes,such as plume splitting,elliptical geometry changes,radial expansion,and plume confinement.Furthermore,the total size of the plasma plume with a magnetic field was measured to be smaller than the plasma plume without a magnetic field at several background pressures.     

紧凑型强流ECR源

建立了１台紧凑型强流ＥＣＲ源。共振磁场由１个小电磁线圈及软铁回路产生,磁场可调,能保证放电处于最佳条件。研究了气压,微波功率及共振场对放电的影响。在５５０Ｗ的放电功率下,从直径４ｍｍ引出孔引出了３５ｍＡ的Ｈ＾＋离子束,引出Ｈ＾＋离子的质子比超过９０％,从源中还引出了７ｍＡＯ＾＋、８ｍＡＮ＾＋、１２ｍＡ Ａｒ＾＋的束流。     

强脉冲电子束在聚酯薄膜表面产生的化学气相沉积

一、引言 高功率密度脉冲电子束(>10~9W/cm~2)轰击金属,将引起金属剧烈蒸发,产生高温等离子体。等离子体中的金属离子获得一定能量后将与本底气体分子相互作用而形成化合物。本文介绍在低压氮气环境中,利用强脉冲电子束轰击铜靶,产生了氮铜化合物沉积在聚酯薄膜表面的实验结果。并用ESCA分析束处理过的聚酯薄膜表面的化学组成的变化。     

海关集装箱检测用电子直线加速器聚焦线圈磁场设计与测试

介绍了在电子直线加速器粒子动力学基础上进行聚焦线圈轴向磁场的设计；利用ＬＩＮＥ－ＡＣＣ／ＰＣ程序模拟计算，给出了不同初始发射度情况下满足束流包络要求的各种聚焦磁场数据。对已经加工好的聚焦系统进行了磁场分布测量，并将实际磁场与理论计算进行了比较。上述工作为确定聚焦线圈的设计方案和加速器的出束实验提供了可靠、丰富的数据。     

Electromagnetic–thermal–structural coupling analysis of the ITER edge localized mode coil with fiexible supports

In a fusion reactor, the edge localized mode (ELM) coil has a mitigating effect on the ELMs of the plasma. The coil is placed close to the plasma between the vacuum vessel and the blanket to reduce its design power and improve its mitigating ability. The coil works in a high-temperature, high-nuclear-heat and high-magnetic-field environment. Due to the existence of outer superconducting coils, the coil is subjected to an alternating electromagnetic force induced by its own alternating current and the outer magnetic field. The design goal for the ELM coil is to maintain its structural integrity in the multi-physical field. Taking as an example the middle ELM coil (with flexible supports) of ITER (the International Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor),an electromagnetic–thermal–structural coupling analysis is carried out using ANSYS. The results show that the flexible supports help the three-layer casing meet the static and fatigue design requirements. The structural design of the middle ELM coil is reasonable and feasible. The work described in this paper provides the theoretical basis and method for ELM coil design.     

Operational characteristics of the high flux plasma generator Magnum-PSI

In Magnum-PSI (MAgnetized plasma Generator and NUMerical modeling for Plasma Surface Interactions), the high density, low temperature plasma of a wall stabilized dc cascaded arc is confined to a magnetized plasma beam by a quasi-steady state axial magnetic field up to 1.3 T. It aims at conditions that enable fundamental studies of plasma–surface interactions in the regime relevant for fusion reactors such as ITER: 10²³–10²⁵ m⁻² s⁻¹ hydrogen plasma flux densities at 1–5 eV. To study the effects of transient heat loads on a plasma-facing surface, a high power pulsed magnetized arc discharge has been developed. Additionally, the target surface can be transiently heated with a pulsed laser system during plasma exposure. In this contribution, the current status, capabilities and performance of Magnum-PSI are presented.     

Investigation of self-generated magnetic field and dynamics of a pulsed plasma flow

Due to the growing interest in studying the compression and disruption of the plasma filament in magnetic fusion devices and Z-pinches, this work may be important for new developments in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion. Recently, on a coaxial plasma accelerator, we managed to obtain the relatively long-lived (∼300 μs) plasma filaments with its self-magnetic field. This was achieved after modification of the experimental setup by using high-capacitive and low-inductive energy storage capacitor banks, as well as electrical cables with low reactive impedance. Furthermore, we were able to avoid the reverse reflection of the plasma flux from the end of the plasma accelerator by installing a special plasma-absorbing target. Thus, these constructive changes of the experimental setup allowed us to investigate the physical properties of the plasma filament by using the comprehensive diagnostics including Rogowski coil, magnetic probes, and Faraday cup. As a result, such important plasma parameters as density of ions and temperature of electrons in plasma flux, time dependent plasma filament's azimuthal magnetic field were measured in discharge gap and at a distance of 23.5 cm from the tip of the cathode. In addition, the current oscillograms and I–V characteristics of the plasma accelerator were obtained. In the experiments, we also observed the charge separation during the acceleration of plasma flow via oscillograms of electron and ion beam currents.     

Effect of single-legged coil on 3D plasma boundary corrugation in EAST

A single-legged coil behind the lower divertor and covering a 120° toroidal angle is utilized in a recent EAST discharge,for the purpose of increasing the wetted area of the divertor surface by locally modifying the magnetic field near the X-point.The plasma response,in particular,the plasma boundary surface corrugation due to the single-legged coil current,is modeled by the updated MARS-F code,by computing the plasma displacement for all important toroidal harmonics (n =1,2,4 and 5) associated with the partial toroidal coverage by the coil.The plasma response produced by the single-legged coil is found to be non-local and is of the kink-peeling type.For a reference EAST plasma with a lower single-null magnetic configuration,the plasma boundary corrugation near the X-point,produced by the upper single-legged coil,is about twice as large as that produced by the lower single-legged coil,despite the proximity of the latter to the X-point.     

Conceptual design of the three-dimensional magnetic field configuration relevant to the magnetopause reconnection in the SPERF

A new ground-based experimental device,the Space Plasma Environment Research Facility (SPERF),is being designed at Harbin Institute of Technology in China,with Asymmetric REconnection eXperiment-3 Dimensional (AREX-3D) as one of the experimental components to study the asymmetric reconnection dynamics relevant to the interaction between the interplanetary and magnetospheric plasmas.The asymmetry in the designed magnetic reconnection process not only refers to the distinct plasma parameters designed for the two upstream regions across the current sheet,but also refers to the inhomogeneity in the direction along the current sheet resulting from the designed 3D magnetic field geometry.These two asymmetries are fundamental features of the reconnection process at the Earth's magnetopause.In experiment,the reconnection process is driven by a set of flux cores through coil-currentramp-up from the 'magnetosheath-side' to interact with a dipole magnetic field generated by the Dipole Research EXperiment (DREX) coil on the 'magnetosphere-side'.The AREX-3D will be able to investigate a range of important reconnection issues in 3D magnetic field geometry that is relevant to the Earth's magnetopause.A wide range of plasma parameters can be achieved through inductive plasma generation with flux cores on the 'magnetosheath-side' and electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) with microwave sources on the 'magnetosphere-side',e.g.high (low) plasma density at experimental magnetosheath (dipole) side.Different reconnection regimes and geometries can be produced by adjusting plasma parameters and coil setups as well as coil current waveforms.The three-dimensional magnetic field configurations in the SPERF relevant to the dayside magnetopause reconnection are discussed in detail.     

The Effect of an External Magnetic Field on the Plume Expansion Dynamics of Laser-Induced Aluminum Plasma

In this work,we investigated the plasma morphology induced by a Nd:YAG laser with the aim of improving the understanding of the formation and dynamics of the plasma in two cases,with and without a magnetic field.Single laser pulse production of a plasma in the absence and presence of a magnetic field was performed with an aluminum target in air.A fast photography technique was employed to obtain information about the expansion dynamics and confinement of the aluminum plasma in each case.The generation of the laser plasma was allowed to expand at two locations with different magnetic field strengths,which correspond to the strength 0.58 T in the center of two magnetic poles and 0.83 T at a distance of 4 mm from the upper pole(N).The plume showed lateral confinement at longer delays when the target was placed at the center of the two poles.When the target was placed at a distance of 4 mm from the upper pole it was observed that the plume was divided into two lobes at the initial stage and traveled towards the center of the magnetic field with further elapse of time.     

Formation of High-β ECH Plasma and Inward Particle Diffusion in RT-1

High-β plasma is stably confined in the Ring Trap 1 (RT-1) device, a magnetospheric configuration with a levitated dipole field magnet. The plasma pressure is mainly resulted from high temperature electrons generated by electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECH), whose bremsstrulung was observed by an X-ray CCD camera. The coil support structure is the main loss route of the hot electrons, and higher-β discharge is realized by coil levitation. Confinement properties of charged particles in the magnetospheric configuration were investigated by using toroidal non-neutral plasma. Fluctuation-induced inward particle diffusion into the strong magnetic field region was realized due to the onset of diocotron (Kelvin–Helmholtz) instability.     

Regulation of the density distribution of a strongly dissipative plasma by a pulsed magnetic field

A pulsed transverse magnetic field with pulse width of 12 ms and magnitude of 2 T was used to modify the density distribution of a weakly-ionized plasma flow with strong collisions between the charged particles and neutrals.The morphology of the plasma is changed substantially,with the density increased upstream and decreased downstream.Meanwhile,the plasma toward the axis contracts laterally and gradually converges to a collimated flow.In addition,a drift wave is observed to be excited in the inhomogeneous plasma by the magnetic field.     

两步激光－飞行时间质谱法测定铁和镍同位素

采用两步激光－飞行时间质谱法测定了铁和镍同位素。用５３２ｎｍ脉冲激光蒸发铁－镍合金及硫酸亚铁样品，蒸发产生的原子采用染料激光共振电离并由飞行时间质谱探测。结果表明，激光蒸发产生的原子束和共振电离激光之间具有很好的时间匹配效率，与连续加热原子化源相比，样品利用率提高了约三个量级。     

Self-focusing of Gaussian Laser Beam Through Collisionless Plasmas and Its Effect on Second Harmonic Generation

This paper presents an investigation of self-focusing of gaussian laser beam in a collisionless plasma and its effect on second harmonic generation. In the presence of gaussian beam, the carriers get redistributed from the high field region to low field region by ponderomotive force and transverse density gradient is established in plasma which in turn generates the plasma wave at pump frequency. This plasma wave interacts with incident laser beam and a second harmonic is generated. Furthermore, if the initial power of input beam is more than the critical power for self-focusing, the beam gets self-focused and hence the generated plasma wave and second harmonic which depend upon the background electron concentration and power of the main beam also get modified accordingly.