Plasma window performance and scaling for an accelerator-based neutron source

J M Blatz; P Barrows; T Kile; D Hoerr; T Gribb; A Hershcovitch; R Radel

doi:10.1063/5.0149656

Plasma window performance and scaling for an accelerator-based neutron source

Rev Sci Instrum. 2023 Nov 1;94(11):115111. doi: 10.1063/5.0149656.

Authors

J M Blatz¹, P Barrows¹, T Kile¹, D Hoerr¹, T Gribb¹, A Hershcovitch², R Radel¹

Affiliations

¹ SHINE Technologies, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711, USA.
² Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.

PMID: 38019112
DOI: 10.1063/5.0149656

Abstract

A "plasma window" was developed for use with a SHINE accelerator-based neutron source. In this work, the design of the plasma window is presented along with results demonstrating successful operation in deuterium over a range of aperture diameters (5-12 mm), gas flow rates (3.5 to 12.5 slm), and input powers (10-55 kW). An empirically determined relationship between the aperture diameter, deuterium gas flow rate, input power, and plasma window pressure differential is also presented.