Plasma expansion across a transverse magnetic field in a negative hydrogen ion source for fusion

摘要

High power negative hydrogen ion sources operating at 0.3 Pa are a key component of the neutral beam injection systems for the international fusion experiment ITER. To achieve the required large ion current at a tolerable number of co-extracted electrons the source is equipped with a magnetic filter field (up to 10 mT). The IPP prototype source (1/8 of the area of the ITER source) has been equipped with a flexible magnetic filter frame to perform filter field studies (position, polarity, strength). Axial profiles of the plasma parameters are measured with two Langmuir probes, positioned in the upper and the lower half of the expansion chamber. In addition to the expected decrease in electron temperature and density a vertical drift develops the direction depending on the polarity of the field. Without field no drift is observed. The drift is less pronounced in caesium seeded discharges and almost vanishes in deuterium, indicating an influence of the ion mass on the drift. A comparison with results from a half-size ITER source reveals that the plasma is much more uniform in the large source.