Improvement in ion confinement time with multigrid configuration in an inertial electrostatic confinement fusion device

• Published in: Physical review. E Vol. 110; no. 1-2; p. 015203
• Main Authors: Saikia, L, Adhikari, S, Mohanty, S R, Bhattacharjee, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2024
• ISSN: 2470-0053
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.110.015203

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 10^{6} 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.