Upgrade of the MIT Linear Electrostatic Ion Accelerator (LEIA) for nuclear diagnostics development for Omega, Z and the NIF

N Sinenian; M J-E Manuel; A B Zylstra; M Rosenberg; C J Waugh; H G Rinderknecht; D T Casey; H Sio; J K Ruszczynski; L Zhou; M Gatu Johnson; J A Frenje; F H Séguin; C K Li; R D Petrasso; C L Ruiz; R J Leeper

doi:10.1063/1.3703315

Upgrade of the MIT Linear Electrostatic Ion Accelerator (LEIA) for nuclear diagnostics development for Omega, Z and the NIF

Rev Sci Instrum. 2012 Apr;83(4):043502. doi: 10.1063/1.3703315.

Authors

N Sinenian¹, M J-E Manuel, A B Zylstra, M Rosenberg, C J Waugh, H G Rinderknecht, D T Casey, H Sio, J K Ruszczynski, L Zhou, M Gatu Johnson, J A Frenje, F H Séguin, C K Li, R D Petrasso, C L Ruiz, R J Leeper

Affiliation

¹ Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. nareg@psfc.mit.edu

PMID: 22559531
DOI: 10.1063/1.3703315

Abstract

The MIT Linear Electrostatic Ion Accelerator (LEIA) generates DD and D(3)He fusion products for the development of nuclear diagnostics for Omega, Z, and the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Significant improvements to the system in recent years are presented. Fusion reaction rates, as high as 10(7) s(-1) and 10(6) s(-1) for DD and D(3)He, respectively, are now well regulated with a new ion source and electronic gas control system. Charged fusion products are more accurately characterized, which allows for better calibration of existing nuclear diagnostics. In addition, in situ measurements of the on-target beam profile, made with a CCD camera, are used to determine the metrology of the fusion-product source for particle-counting applications. Finally, neutron diagnostics development has been facilitated by detailed Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport (MCNP) modeling of neutrons in the accelerator target chamber, which is used to correct for scattering within the system. These recent improvements have resulted in a versatile platform, which continues to support the existing nuclear diagnostics while simultaneously facilitating the development of new diagnostics in aid of the National Ignition Campaign at the National Ignition Facility.