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Internal
Magnetic Field Measurement of Plasmas Using an Alpha Particle VxB Detector--Princeton
Scientific Instruments, Inc., 7 Deer Park Drive, Monmouth Junction, NJ
08852-1921; 732-274-0774, www.prinsci.com
Mr. John Lowrance, Principal Investigator, lowrance@prinsci.com
Mr.
John Lowrance, Business Official,
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER84048
Amount:
$99,692
It
is very important to measure the internal magnetic field distribution inside hot
plasmas associated with magnetic fusion research; however, a material probe
cannot survive the plasma without disturbing the process.
This project will develop a magnetic field detector, useful for current
and future magnetic fusion research, by employing a radioactive source of MeV
alpha particles just outside the plasma. The
magnetic VxB deflection of these alpha particles by the magnetic fields inside
the plasma will be detected and measured by a large-area alpha particle detector
array that is located outside the plasma envelope, but positioned in the path of
the deflected alpha particles. In
Phase I the Alpha VxB or “AVB” detector concept will be refined, and the
alpha detector array technology that best meets the magnetic field measurement
requirements will be identified. In
Phase II, the resulting conceptual design from Phase I will be completed, built,
evaluated, and delivered for use as a magnetic field diagnostic in the National
Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX).
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The
primary application for the proposed state-of-the-art improvement in plasma
magnetic field diagnosis and related large area charge particle detection arrays
is in nuclear fusion research.