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Recent Progress and Applications in Steady State Fusion Using D-3He
| Author: | Ashley R.P. |
| Coauthor: | G. L. Kulcinski, J. F. Santarius, S. K. Murali, G. Piefer, B. Cipiti, R. Radel, T. Uchytil and J. We |
| Institution : | Fusion Technology Institute |
| Abstract text: | The fusion reaction, D + 3He ‡ p (14.7 MeV) + 4He (3.7 MeV), produces high-energy protons that are very useful in a number of applications, which include medical isotope production and direct conversion electricity production. Inertial electrostatic confinement devices can create steady state conditions necessary for the fusion of advanced fuels, relying on the radial acceleration of charged particles between two concentric, nearly transparent spherical electrodes.
The University of Wisconsin’s inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) facility at the Fusion Technology Institute [1] has made substantial progress in the fusion reaction rate of deuterium and helium-3. We have reached 180 kV operating voltage on the cathode, enabling us to produced 1.8 x 108 D-D neutrons/sec.
We have installed medical isotope activation systems, and have used the 14.7 MeV protons produced by the steady state fusion of deuterium and helium-3 to create 13N and 24mTc. Since the 13N isotope has a short half life (10 minutes), we have developed a way to collect the isotopes and detect the gamma decay in real time. We have also used the neutrons to activate gold and indium on the outside of the chamber.
A new technique for determining the spatial distribution of the fusion reactions inside the chamber has been developed. A helicon ion gun source has been installed which will produce a high current discharge into a very low pressure IEC chamber. A new cathode grid fabrication system has also been developed allowing more rapid and consistent grid manufacturing.
1. Ashley, RP et al, “D-3He Fusion in an Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Device” p. 35, 18th IEEE/NPSS Symposium on Fusion Engineering, Oct. 1999, Published by IEEE, 99CH37050.
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