Long-pulse arc-discharge plasma source with cold cathode for diagnostic neutral beam injector^a) Available to Purchase

Long-pulse cold cathode arc-discharge plasma generators have been successfully used as high-quality hydrogen ion sources for plasma diagnostic neutral beams. One of the main advantages of this type of plasma source is a high proton fraction (80%–90%). However, the lifetime of the plasma source is limited due to intensive electrode’s erosion, especially at the cathode region. An optimized design of the cathode and the nearest electrodes is found which reduces the erosion and allows us to increase the pulse length. The plasma source produces the extracted ion current up to $3A$ at a low angular divergence, and at the pulse duration up to $2s$⁠.