A MICROWAVE ION SOURCE FOR REMOTE LEAK DETECTION AND VACUUM ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTATION FOR FUSION

PRESENTLY AVAILABLE MASS SPECTROMETER-BASED VACUUM INSTRUMENTS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR USE IN ANTICIPATED FUSION FACILITIES, WHERE TRITIUM WILL BE USED. THE ION SOURCE IS THE PRIMARY LIMITATION. THIS R&D PROGRAM WILL LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF A MINIATURE ECR (ELECTRON CYCLOTRON RESONANT)MICROWAVE ION SOURCE FOR APPLICATION IN LEAK DETECTORS AND VACUUM INSTRUMENTATION. THE ECR ION SOURCE CAN BE DEVELOPED IN A VERY RUGGED COMPACT FORM THAT WILL PROVIDE VERY LONG SOURCE LIFETIME AND IMMUNITY TO DAMAGE FROM PRESSURE EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVE GASES. THE ECR ION SOURCE ELIMINATES THE FILAMENTS AND OTHER INTERNAL ELECTRODES THAT LIMIT THE LIFETIME AND OPERATING ENVIRONMENT OF OTHER ION SOURCES. LEAK DETECTORS AND MASS SPECTROMETERS BASED ON THIS NEW SOURCE WILL TOLERATE REACTIVE GASES AND HIGH PRESSURES DURING OPERATION. IN PHASE I THE FEASIBILITY OF THE ECR ION SOURCE FOR LEAK DETECTORS WILL BE ADDRESSED. THIS WILL INCLUDE DESIGNING A PROTOTYPE SOURCE AND TESTING THE LOW POWER ECR SOURCE CONCEPT. FEASIBILITY WILL BE ASSESSED CONSIDERING BOTH THE SOURCE AND AN ASSOCIATED SOLID-STATE MICROWAVE DRIVER. IN PHASE II A PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENT WILL BE DEVELOPED AND PROPERTIES OF THE ECR SOURCE INVESTIGATED IN DETAIL.