Increasing the electrical strength and operation stability of a small-sized ion accelerator

Abstract

When developing a small-sized ion accelerator designed for neutron generation, special attention ispaid to its electrical strength and operational stability. The presence of oxide films and sorbed gaseson the device accelerating system high-voltage gap surfaces stimulates the occurrence of emissionprocesses, leading to a decrease in the electric strength of the accelerator. At the same time, anincrease in the pressure of sorbed residual gases in the closed volume of the device leads to a decreasein the concentration of the working gas (deuterium and tritium). This is one of the reasons for thedecrease in the neutron flux and the decrease in the stability of the accelerator. One of the ways toimprove the electrical strength and stability of its operation is to improve the technological methodsof manufacturing the device. This is the subject of this work, which studied the effect of a newmethod for manufacturing a small-sized ion accelerator, the method of ion-plasma treatment (IPT)of accelerating system parts in an inert gas medium. To determine the processing parameters, thedynamics of a glow discharge in the geometry of the processed parts of the accelerator was simulated,and experimental studies were carried out that showed the effect of gas pressure, voltage, and currentof the discharge on the IPT duration. As a result, the processing parameters used in the manufacture ofthe ion accelerator using the new technology were determined. According to the research results, it isshown that the use of IPT in the manufacture of the device makes it possible to increase its electricalstrength and stability.