Inertial electro-magnetostatic plasma neutron sources

Summary for only given. Two types of systems are being studied experimentally as D-T plasma neutron sources. In both concepts, spherical convergence of either electrons or ions or both is used to produce a dense central focus within which D-T fusion reactions produce 14 MeV neutrons. One concept uses nonneutral plasma confinement principles in a Penning type trap. In this approach, combined electrostatic and magnetic fields provide a vacuum potential well within which electrons are confined and focused. A small (6 mm radius) spherical machine has demonstrated a focus of 30 /spl mu/m radius, with a central density of up to 35 times the Brillouin density limit of a static trap. The resulting electron plasma of up to several 10/sup 13/ cm/sup -3 /provides a multi-kV electrostatic well for confining thermonuclear ions as a neutron source. The second concept (inertial electrostatic confinement, or IEC) uses a high-transparency grid to form a global well for acceleration and confinement of ions. Such a system has demonstrated steady neutron output of 2/spl times/10/sup 10/ s/sup -1/. The present experiment will scale this to >10/sup 11/ s/sup -1/. Advanced designs based on each concept have been developed recently.