The Los Alamos Penning Fusion experiment-ions

Summary form only given. Virtual cathode machines (usually called Penning Fusion or PF machines) have achieved the required physics goals of maintaining required nonthermal electron distributions, spherical focussing, and excellent electron energy confinement, and are poised to study ion physics. PF systems attempt to tailor the electron cloud to produce a spherical ion well, while maintaining desired electron confinement. In addition to the steady ion convergent mode of IEC machines (Spherically Convergent Ion Focus or SCIF), PF systems potentially may access a recently discovered oscillating ion mode (Periodically Oscillating Plasma Sphere or POPS), if a uniform density electron cloud is formed with appropriate electrostatic boundary conditions. The Penning Fusion eXperiment-Ions (PFX-I), part of the Innovative Concepts Initiative of the Office of Fusion Energy (OFE) is a unique magnetic confinement concept based upon the traditional nonneutral-plasma Penning trap. It is an electron/ion trap comprised of a small magnetic flux-shaper, an electron emitter, and gas supply. The trap itself has an ID of less than 40 mm, with access to the center restricted through ports less than 15 mm in diameter.