R&D on high power negative ion sources and accelerators for a neutral beam injector

Inoue, Takashi

Negative ion sources and accelerators have been developed toward the ITER neutral beam injector (NBI). According to an analysis of negative ion surface production, the "KAMABOKO" ion source has been developed maximizing its volume/surface ratio, for fast electron confinement followed by enhancement of atomic density. An "external filter" is equipped in the source, to suppress ion destruction by the fast electrons with efficient diffusion of the atoms to ion extraction region. H ions of 300 A/m was extracted at the pressure of 0.3 Pa. For the accelerator, vacuum insulation technology has been developed since insulation gas such as SF is not applicable under radiation environment. Considering pressure in the accelerator (0.020.2 Pa), insulation guideline has been developed for both vacuum arc and glow discharges. Reduction of electric field stress at triple junction was effective to prevent flashover along insulator surface. H ion beams of 900 keV and 80 A/m (total ion current: 0.11 A) were obtained for several hundred shots.