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(ICP/05) Measurements of Strongly Localized Potential Well Profiles in an Inertial Electrostatic Fusion Neutron Source

K. Yoshikawa¹⁾, K. Takiyama²⁾, T. Koyama¹⁾, K. Taruya¹⁾, K. Masuda¹⁾, Y. Yamamoto¹⁾, T. Toku¹⁾, T. Kii¹⁾, H. Hashimoto¹⁾, N. Inoue¹⁾, M. Ohnishi³⁾, H. Horiike^4)
 
1) Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
²⁾ Hiroshima University, Higashi Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan
³⁾ Kansai University, Suita, Osaka 564-8680, Japan
⁴⁾ Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

Abstract.  Direct measurements of localized electric fields are made by the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method by use of the Stark effects in the central cathode core region of an Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement Fusion (IECF) neutron (proton) source, which is expected for various applications, such as luggage security inspection, non-destructive testing, land mine detector, or positron emitter production for cancer detection, currently producing continuously about 10⁷ n/sec D-D neutrons. Since 1967 when the first fusion reaction was successfully proved experimentally in a very compact IECF device, potential well formation due to space charge associated with spherically converging ion beams has been a central key issue to be clarified in the beam-beam colliding fusion, which is the major mechanism of the IECF neutron source. Many experiments, but indirect, were made so far to clarify the potential well, but none of them produced definitive evidence, however. Results by the present LIF method show a double well potential profile with a slight concave for ion beams with relatively larger angular momenta, whereas for ions with smaller angular momenta, potential but much steeper peak to develop.

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