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During 2016, a joint experimental campaign was carried out by QST and Consorzio RFX on the Negative Ion Test Stand (NITS) at the QST Naka Fusion Institute, Japan, with the purpose of validating some design solutions adopted in MITICA, which is the full-scale prototype of the ITER NBI, presently under construction at Consorzio RFX, Padova, Italy. The main purpose of the campaign was to test a novel technique, for suppressing the beamlet criss-cross magnetic deflection. This new technique, involving a set of permanent magnets embedded in the Extraction Grid, named Asymmetric Deflection Compensation Magnets (ADCM), is potentially more performing and robust than the traditional electrostatic compensation methods. The results of this first campaign confirmed the effectiveness of the new magnetic configuration in reducing the criss-cross magnetic deflection. Nonetheless, contrary to expectations, a complete deflection correction was not achieved. By analyzing in detail the results, we found indications that a physical process, taking place just upstream of the plasma grid, was giving an important contribution to the final deflection of the negative ion beam. This process appears to be related to the drift of negative ions inside the plasma source, in the presence of a magnetic field transverse to the extraction direction, and results in a non-uniform ion current density extracted at the meniscus. Therefore, the numerical models adopted in the design were improved by including this previously disregarded effect, so as to obtain a much better matching with the experimental results. Based on the results of the first campaign, new permanent magnets were designed and installed on the Extraction Grid of NITS. A second QST-Consorzio RFX joint experimental campaign was then carried out in 2017, demonstrating the complete correction of the criss-cross deflection and confirming the validity of the novel magnetic configuration and of the hypothesis behind the new models. This contribution presents the results of the second joint experimental campaign on NITS along with the overall data analysis of both campaigns, and the description of the improved models. A general picture is given of the relation among magnetic field, beam energy, meniscus non-uniformity and beamlet deflection, constituting a useful database for the design of future machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermal beam emittance measurement method is developed specifically to measure high power density beams for the ITER neutral beam injection system (NBI)’s. A one-dimensional carbon-fiber composite (CFC) target is utilized to withstand the high current densities of the negative hydrogen beam making the beam emittance measurement possible. Schemes for the emittance measurement were discussed since beam instabilities are present in various stages of the beam phase. The allowable time for the measurement will be less than 2 seconds and it’s necessary to monitor the CFC temperature to not exceed 2000°C. The proposed measurement scheme to minimize beam instabilities is through the constant operation of the arc discharge and pulsed beam extraction. Mechanical structures are also being designed for rapid measurements to select different phases of the beam and for implementing the measurement system to long pulse beam operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate deposition of cesium (Cs) in the plasma grid (PG) and investigate the origin of the gradual degradation of the negative ion current in a 100 s long pulsed operation in the JT-60SA negative ion source, Cs behavior in the source is model. To do this, Cs adsorption/desorption coefficient with a wide range of temperature is experimentally measured by a surface ionization detector and a quartz crystal microbalance. As a result, both of the adsorption and desorption are drastically varied at temperature range from room temperature to 100 °C. Based on these data, the model calculates the amounts of the Cs mass in the chamber wall and PG. The calculation result shows that, in the operation, an increase of temperature in the chamber wall (Twall) causes the evaporation of the huge amount of Cs in it. This leads to over pilling-up of Cs in the PG and the slight degradation of the negative ion production. Therefore, it is found that the constant temperature operation is needed to sustain the thickness of the Cs monolayer in the PG, and the Twall is desired to be less than 60 °C to suppress the evaporation of Cs in the chamber wall. According to this model, it is showed that there are many combinations of the temperatures to achieve it with low Cs consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the uniformity of the negative ion production, the KEIO-MARC code has been applied to the QST's JT60SA negative ion source in three different magnetic configurations (i) MC-PGMF (Multi-Cusp and PG Magnetic Filter), (ii) TNT-MF (TeNT Magnetic Filter) and (iii) MTNT-MF (Modified TeNT Magnetic Filter). From the results, we have confirmed that the electron rotation inside the negative ion source is an essential element in order to obtain a uniform production of the negative ions. By adding extra tent magnets on the longitudinal sides, the electron rotation has been enhanced, and a uniform production of negative ions has been realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative magnetic configuration called ADCM (Asymmetric Deflection Compensation Magnets) has been recently proposed for the cancellation of the "criss-cross" deflection of ion trajectories in multi-beamlet negative ion accelerators. Such undesired deflection occurs due to the transverse magnetic field, which is necessary for the suppression of co-extracted electrons. In view of the application of this concept to the ITER Heating Neutral Beam Injector, the new configuration has been experimentally tested for the first time in 2016, in the framework of a research collaboration between Consorzio RFX and QST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high power density and a long pulse negative ion beam accelerator has been developed in QST to realize the ITER neutral beam accelerator. A main target was the H- ion beam acceleration up to 1 MeV with 200 A/m² for 60 s. After the achievement of 1 MeV at a short pulse, the pulse length has been gradually extended by modifications of grid configurations to suppress grid heat loads due to negative ions and electrons. However, the beam energy was limited up to 0.7 MeV at 60 s operation. One issue was an unstable negative ion production for a long time due to arcing and excess temperature rise of a plasma grid for optimum negative ion production. To suppress arcing, a cathode filament shape was modified. The plasma grid was modified to have a large heat capacitance in order to suppress temperature rise for 60 s operation at high discharge power required for 1 MeV operation. Another issue is to optimize beam optics more precisely. Fine tuning of the 1st acceleration stage was carried to improve beam optics for high current density beam. With these modifications, high power density beam acceleration of 0.97 MeV, 190 A/m² has been achieved for 60 s. This is the first long pulse acceleration of ITER class high power density beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optics design of the multi-beamlet negative ion accelerator for MITICA has been verified by means of specific experiments in the NITS test facility at the QST lab, employing a scaled-down configuration having the same features as the accelerator of MITICA and ITER HNB. The experiments confirmed the validity of the accelerator design. However it was found that, in the presence of transverse magnetic field in the ion extraction stage, the ion beamlet deflection in numerical simulations was somehow underestimated with respect to the beamlet deflection inferred from thermal images of a CFC target exposed to the negative ion beam. A detailed benchmark, using also another (completely independent) numerical model of the accelerator, has allowed the identification of possible origins of the differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to compare the simulation and the experiments of the extracted H- beams in JT-60SA negative ion source, an analysis of H- ion transport has been conducted. It has been shown that, under the present conditions, the calculated beam profile correlates well with the experiments, and the majority of the extracted H- ions are produced at the surface of the extraction aperture. However, since those H- ions could contribute to beam halo, a careful evaluation of the beam optics, taking into account more realistic plasma potential will be needed in the future works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative ion beam optics is studied quantitatively from the viewpoints of the heat loads due to the beam halo in the accelerator and the emittance of the negative ion beam by using the 3D3V PIC model combined with a Monte Carlo calculation, in which negative ion beam from plasma meniscus formation to the beam acceleration is modeled. As for the heat loads of the A2G and the GRG, the simulation result almost agrees with the experimental result. The simulation result indicates that the secondary electrons from the extractor also contribute to the heat load of the A1G. Moreover, the normalized rms emittance of the negative ion beam after the exit of the GRG are estimated to be around 0.25π mm mrad, which are compatible with the typical values of the negative ion sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature control system of the large-size plasma grid has been developed to realize the long pulse production of high-current negative ions for JT-60SA. By using this prototype system for the JT-60SA ion source, 15 A negative ions has been sustained for 100 s for the first time, which is three times longer than that obtained in JT-60U. In this system, a high-temperature fluorinated fluid with a high boiling point of 270 degree Celsius is circulated in the cooling channels of the plasma grids (PG) where a cesium (Cs) coverage is formed to enhance the negative ion production. Because the PG temperature control had been applied to only 10% of the extraction area previously, the prototype PG with the full extraction area (110 cm x 45 cm) was developed to increase the negative ion current in this time. In the preliminary results of long pulse productions of high-current negative ions at a Cs conditioning phase, the negative ion production was gradually degraded in the last half of 100 s pulse where the temperature of an arc chamber wall was not saturated. From the spectroscopic measurements, it was found that the Cs flux released from the wall might affect to the negative ion production, which implied the wall temperature should be kept low to control the Cs flux to the PG for the long-pulse high-current production. The obtained results of long-pulse production and the PG temperature control method contributes the design of the ITER ion source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R&D of high power density negative ion beam acceleration has been carried out at MeV test facility in JAEA to realize ITER neutral beam accelerator. The main target is H- ion beam acceleration up to 1 MeV with 200 A/m² for 60 s whose pulse length is the present facility limit. For long pulse acceleration at high power density, new extraction grid (EXG) has been developed with high cooling capability, which electron suppression magnet is placed under cooling channel similar to ITER. In addition, aperture size of electron suppression grid (ESG) is enlarged from 14 mm to 16 mm to reduce direct interception on the ESG and emission of secondary electron which leads to high heat load on the upstream acceleration grid. By enlarging ESG aperture, beam current increased 10% at high current beam and total acceleration grid heat load reduced from 13% to 10% of input power at long pulse beam. In addition, heat load by back stream positive ion into the EXG is measured for the first time and is estimated as 0.3% of beam power, while heat load by back stream ion into the source chamber is estimated as 3.5 ~ 4.0% of beam power. Beam acceleration up to 60 s which is the facility limit, has achieved at 683 keV, 100 A/m² of negative ion beam, whose energy density increases two orders of magnitude since 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physics design of the accelerator for the Heating Neutral Beamline (HNB) on ITER is still being worked on and this paper describes the design considerations, choices and status of the same. Equal acceleration gaps of 85 mm have been chosen to improve the voltage holding while keeping the beam divergence low. Kerbs and biaxial (and/or oblique) apertures are used to compensate for unwanted magnetic deflection, beamlet-beamlet interaction and to point the beamlets in the right direction. A combination of long-range and short-range magnetic fields is used to reduce electron leakage between the grids and limit the transmitted electron power to below 800 kW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper briefly summarizes a workshop held in Jyvaskyla the day after NIBS'12. The half-day workshop aimed at globally capturing the issue of performance variations in H- sources. There was a focus on production facilities and facilities that work under production-like conditions, because there are often high expectations to be met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In large negative ion sources of the neutral beam injector (NBI) for large fusion devices, such as ITER and JT-60SA, one of issues is that negative ion beam might be partially intercepted at acceleration grids due to a spatial non-uniformity of negative ion production on large extraction area. Previous experiments have shown that fast electrons emitted from filament cathodes are transported in a longitudinal direction by B × grad B drift and the spatial distribution of electron temperature (Te) is strongly related with the non-uniformity of negative ion production. In this study, a three-dimensional electron transport analysis code including detailed collision processes has been developed to clarify a physical mechanism of non-uniform Te distribution. Electron density and temperature in the analysis agree well with measurements by Langmuir probe in the JAEA 10A ion source. Then, this study has clarified that the non-uniformity of Te distribution is mainly caused by the following reasons; i) fast electrons drifted in the longitudinal direction survive near the end wall with high energy up to E = 25 - 60 eV and ii) they produce thermal electrons by collision with plasma particles there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceleration of a 500 keV beam up to 2.8 A has been achieved on a JT-60U negative ion source with a three-stage accelerator by overcoming low voltage holding which is one of the critical issues for realization of the JT-60SA ion source. In order to improve the voltage holding, preliminary voltage holding tests with small-size grids with uniform and locally intense electric fields were carried out, and suggested that the voltage holding was degraded by both the size and local electric field effects. Therefore, the local electric field was reduced by tuning gap lengths between the large size grids and grid support structures of the accelerator. Moreover, a beam radiation shield which limited extension of the minimum gap length was also optimized so as to reduce the local electric field while maintaining the shielding effect. These modifications were based on the experiment results, and significantly increased the voltage holding from <150 kV/stage for the original configuration to 200 kV/stage. These techniques for improvement of voltage holding should also be applicable to other large ion sources accelerators such as those for ITER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage holding of -1 MV is an essential issue in development of a multi-aperture multi-grid (MAMuG) negative ion accelerator, of which target is to accelerate 200 A/m2 H- ion beam up to the energy of 1 MeV for several tens seconds. Review of voltage holding results ever obtained with various geometries of the accelerators showed that the voltage holding capability was about a half of designed value based on the experiment obtained from ideal small electrode. This is considered due to local electric field concentration in the accelerators, such as edge and steps between multi-aperture grids and its support structures. Based on the detailed investigation with electric field analysis, accelerator was modified to reduce the electric field concentration by reshaping the support structures and expanding the gap length between the grid supports. After the modifications, the accelerator succeeded in sustaining -1 MV for more than one hour in vacuum. Improvement of the voltage holding characteristics progressed the energy and current accelerated by the MeV accelerator. Up to 2010, beam parameters achieved by the MAMuG accelerator were increased to 879 keV, 0.36 A (157 A/m2) at perveance matched condition and 937 keV, 0.33 A (144 A/m2) slightly under perveance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of the neutral beam (NB) systems on JT-60SA, where 30-34 MW D0 beams are required to be injected for 100 s. A 30 s operation of the NB injectors suggests that existing beamline components and positive ion sources on JT-60U can be reused without the modifications on JT-60 SA. The JT-60 negative ion source was modified to improve the voltage holding capability, which leads to a successful acceleration of 2.8 A H- ion beam up to 500 keV of the rated acceleration energy for JT-60SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the recent activities at JAEA for the development of 1 MeV H- ion accelerator toward the ITER NBI. For the development of MAMuG accelerator, a 320 mA H- ion beam was successfully accelerated as the highest record in the world at the MeV class energy (796 keV). This was achieved by protecting the H- ion source from the high heat load by the backstream positive ions, which was produced during the high current H- ion acceleration. The SINGAP accelerator was tested at JAEA to compare the performance of the SINGAP and the MAMuG. This paper also reports the results of the SINGAP test and the comparison between the SINGAP and the MAMuG is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IRFM (CEA Cadarache) and JAEA Naka have entered into a collaboration in order to test a SINGAP [1] accelerator at the JAEA Megavolt Test Facility (MTF) at Naka, Japan. Whereas at the CEA testbed the acceleration current was limited to 0.1 A, at JAEA 0.5 A is available. This allows the acceleration of 15 H- beamlets in SINGAP to be tested and a direct comparison between SINGAP and MAMuG [2] to be made. High-voltage conditioning in the SINGAP configuration has been quite slow, with 581 kV in vacuum achieved after 140 hours of conditioning. With 0.1 Pa of H2 gas present in the accelerator 787 kV could be achieved. The conditioning curve for MAMuG is 200 kV higher. SINGAP beam optics appears in agreement with calculation results. A beamlet divergence better than 5 mrad was obtained. SINGAP accelerates electrons to a higher energy than MAMuG. Measurements of the power intercepted on one of the electron dumps have been compared with EAMCC code [3] calculations. Based on the experiments described here, electron production by a SINGAP accelerator scaled up to ITER size was estimated to be too high for comfort [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess heat loads to accelerator grids limit extension of pulse length in operation of the large negative ion sources with multi aperture accelerator. Part of the heat loads is caused by interception of deflected beamlets due to their space charge repulsion. In this paper, a beamlet steering technique using aperture offset was examined for compensation of the beamlet deflections utilizing a three dimensional beam analysis simulating the D- negative ion source of JT-60 U. The beamlet deflection was analyzed in detail using fifty beamlets, which were extracted from apertures arranged in a lattice pattern of 10×5. The simulation showed successful compensation of the beamlet deflection by aperture offsets defined according to the thin lens theory. Even if the beam energy was changed, the necessary aperture offset would not be changed maintaining the perveance and a ratio of extraction and acceleration voltage. In JT-60 U, it was shown that the aperture offset of less than 1.0 mm would be enough to compensate the repulsion of all beamlets. When the magnetic field was applied for suppression of co-extracted electrons, necessary aperture offset was estimated to be ±0.5 mm for 500 keV D- ion beam in JT-60 U, in addition to the offset for the space charge repulsion. This result showed good agreements with the previous experimental results and design study of the JT-60 U N-NBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production and transport processes of H0 atoms are numerically simulated to obtain the H0 atom density. A three-dimensional transport code using a Monte Carlo method has been applied to analyze the local density of H0 atoms in the large “JAEA 10 ampere negative ion source” under Cs-seeded condition. In this study, the production rate of H0 atoms through the dissociation process of H2 molecules is estimated from single probe characteristics of the Langmuir probe measurement. In the code, the energy relaxation process of H0 atoms is also taken into account. The results show that the existence of high-energy electrons and the energy relaxation process of H0 atoms affect the H0 atom density. © 2007 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ITER NB, conventional gas insulated beam source (GIBS) cannot be utilized because of the radiation-induced conductivity of the insulation gas. Thus a vacuum insulated beam source (VIBS), where the whole beam source is immersed in vacuum, has been developed at JAERI. Recently, voltage holding capability of the VIBS was drastically improved by the large stress ring, which reduces the electric field concentration at the triple junction. Up to now, a high current density H- beam of 102 A/m2 (140 mA) at 800 keV has been accelerated. The beam acceleration was quite stable and accomplished for several hundreds shots. The degradation of the voltage holding due to the beam acceleration and/or Cs seeding was not observed. Thus the development of vacuum insulated beam source has solved technical issues of high voltage insulation of 1 MV level under the presence of the H- ion beams. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]