Abstract
Improvement in the functionality of an inertial electrostatic confinement fusion (IECF) device has been investigated through kinetic simulation. Previously, we achieved a neutron generation rate of neutrons per second, but higher rates and better plasma confinement are necessary for broader applications. We compared a traditional single-grid IECF device with a triple-grid variant to evaluate the benefits of using multiple grids for ion confinement. Our computational models, using the 2D-3V xoopic code, suggest that the triple-grid device, with its optimized potentials, could significantly enhance ion confinement. The models show that the triple-grid design directs ion beams more effectively to the center, in contrast with the more scattered ion distribution in the single-grid design. This results in longer ion lifetimes in the triple-grid system due to its modified electrostatic fields. In the standard single-grid IECF device, the primary reasons for ion loss are chaotic ion trajectories and interactions with residual gases. By operating the triple-grid device under very low background gas pressure and with a focused field structure, we expect to achieve improved ion confinement.
2 More- Received 14 February 2024
- Accepted 17 June 2024
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.110.015203
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