Effect of non-uniform electron energy distribution function on plasma production in large arc driven negative ion source

Shibata, Takanori; Koga, Shojiro*; Terasaki, Ryo*; Inoue, Takashi; Dairaku, Masayuki; Kashiwagi, Mieko; Taniguchi, Masaki; Tobari, Hiroyuki; Tsuchida, Kazuki; Umeda, Naotaka; et al.

Review of Scientific Instruments, 83(2), p.02A719_1 - 02A719_3, 2012/02

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3673485

In the NBI for large fusion devices, production of uniform negative ion beam is one of important issues. A physical model is proposed to understand the non-uniformity. It has been qualitatively shown that the non-uniform beam intensity is due to the following process; (1) formation of non-uniform EEDF, (2) localized production of hydrogen atoms/ions (H/H) due to (1), (3) non-uniform flux of H/H to the PG and (4) localized surface production of negative ions. However, in the past studies, the EEDF was assumed as two temperature Maxwellian distribution from measurements. Thus effects of high energy electrons are not taken into account precisely. In the present research, local EEDF is calculated by the 3D Monte-Carlo kinetic model which takes into account the spatial and magnetic configurations of the real negative ion source. The numerical result show that high energy component of the EEDF enhances the spatial non-uniformity in the production rate of H/H.