Results

Background
Abstract
High Voltage rf Isolator for Periodically
What is IEC?
The Periodically Oscillating Plasma Sphere (POPS) is an innovative fusion
concept based on inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) system. Ions are
IEC stands for ‘Inertial
Oscillating Plasma Sphere Experiment Transient pulse energy across rf amplifier
confined in a potential well created by a uniform electron background, and Electrostatic Confinement’ Grid is charged Electron Injectors
undergo a harmonic oscillation. Recently, the POPS oscillation has been To high potential

confirmed experimentally and substantial plasma compression has been IEC uses a cylindrical or
create a plasma
G. Sonnenfeld, J. Park and M. Kostora
spherically charged grid to
demonstrated by particle simulation. However, previous experiments were limited confine and accelerate ions in a
plasma
Plasma Physics Group, LANL
by the voltage constraints of the system, producing potential well depths just up to
300 V by a 500 V pulsed grid bias. A new high voltage rf isolator is currently
Grid is charged to 50+kV
potential
Physics Engineering Program, NMSU
under construction to handle up to a 5 kV DC pulse with rf modulations of up to
500 V in amplitude. The circuit will isolate the rf source from the DC pulser via an
As ions are pulled towards the
center potential energy is
Purpose Requirements of Design Without protection With protection
IGBT switched RLC filter variant, and isolate the DC pulser from the rf via a converted into kinetic energy
A new device is being designed and built, capable of coupling a 5- Total energy dissipated across circuit with transient protection:
second IGBT switched RL circuit. The circuit will be designed to minimize signal 10kV pulsed DC voltage to a 500KHz-2Mhz rf signal @ 1000Vpp.
Ions collide at center with high Couple rf signal and DC Protect rf amplifier from 23.3(2∗10 −8 ) 4. 66×10 −7
distortion and power loss, and increase the potential well depth and lifetime. energies - potentially causing E= =
fusion Ions collide in Progress of the POPS experiment is limited equipment by: DC pulse to grid 5kV DC and transient R internal R internal
Experimental results using this isolator will be presented and its relevance to the Center
pulse ~500v max, rf ~80vpp max. Total energy dissipated across circuit w/o transient protection:
POPS research will be discussed. pulse
443.7(2∗10 −8 ) 8. 874×10 −6
Mixing the DC/RF signal, requires a special purpose isolator to Preserve 60 nS rise E= R internal
= R internal
prevent equipment damage.
time of 5KV pulser Protect DC pulser
IEC grid
cannot be significantly equipment from 500v rf
Fundamental problems w/ The POPS concept changed voltage

conventional IEC We charge several spherical grids with positive rather than
negative potential
dc/rf coupler-
Isolator device
Sinusoidal voltage must DC pulser protection
Preserved Pulse Characteristics
rf amplifier
begin within ~25uS of circuit must have a stop
Electrical field created by negatively charged grid is Electrons oscillate about the center creating a spherical initial pulse RF from .5MHz-2MHz R circuit RL circuit L circuit
complicated electron cloud
E(r) = -u[r − R grid ] ∗ ( C1
r2
− λ debyeshield ) HV pulser
The grid voltages are adjusted until there is an equal density
For effective power generation, high densities are needed in electron plasma within the grid
collision area, random oscillations density is far to low
The electric field created by an equal density, spherical
electron plasma is:
Ions with similar frequencies can be driven with a sinusoidal
signal resulting in these particles converging to the same
phase. This is referred to as ‘Phase Locking’
E(r)  −kr r ∈ [0, R grid ]
This is the forcing function for a harmonic oscillator R circuit simulates circuit response without protective inductor
Because ions in classic IEC have a very broad distribution of
frequencies, only a small band can be phase locked All particles within the well have the same frequency and can L Circuit simulates signal response without a transient bypass of
be phase locked .5-2MHz Bandpass protective circuit

filter RL circuit has a signal very similar to R circuit, no loss of transient

signal

Pulse filter 20uS charge time for Inductor in RL circuit, when charged resistor can
Electric Field lines in cathode Region Previous POPS experimental data be switch off for rf protection
switch
Conventional IEC Vs. POPS Inner grid bias and rf modulation (~ 8V amp) at t=0.1 ms Radial Potential Profile vs. Inner Grid Bias
Outer grid bias = contstant in time (300V in this case) -6
Grid bias and plasma potential at the center (V)

300 Outer and Extractor Grids at 100 V, Pressure ~ 3 x 10

Conventional IEC Cathode POPS “Virtual” Cathode 160
@ 160 V

E(r) = -u[r − R grid ] ∗ ( Cr 21 − λ debyeshield ) E(r)  −kr r ∈ [0, R grid ]

250 140
Plasma Potential (V)

120
200 Virtual cathode @ 120 V
100
Well depth
80
150 @ 100 V

100
60

40
@ 80 V
AC signal Across Pulser and Load (grid)
Virtual cathode Outer
20 Grid
Inner Grid @ 40 V
decay (@2.9 ms) @100V
50 0
Electron injection at t=0 -2 0 2 4 6

0 Radius (inches)
0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (ms) Lowpass
Experimentation has shown strong evidence that POPS can be created
filter load pulser

Potential wells have been created up to 300v with a 500v bias (not
shown)

Higher rf voltage needed to expel ions to stop virtual cathode

(potential well) decay due to background ionization 500khz 1mhz 2mhz
Shaded Area not used
for ION confinement Signal voltages are currently limited by equipment Vsource =3.65Vrms Vsource =3.56Vrms Vsource =3Vrms
rf filter switch Vload = 3.25Vrms Vload = 3.3Vrms Vload = 2.78Vrms
Vpulser = .72 Vrms Vpulser = .43Vrms Vpulser = .42Vrms

3d representation of POPS fusion cycle Percent power across Pulser:

2mhz = 1.96% 1mhz = 1.45% 500khz = 3.89%

t= 0 π π
0<t< 2
t= 2
t= 3π
2
KE ions = 0 KE ions = increases KE ions = Total_System_Energy KE ions = Decreases
Φ ions = Total_System_Energy Φ ions = decreases Φ ions = 0 Φ ions = Increases Switching the RF side IGBT Protecting the RF amplifier Protecting the Pulser Switching the pulser side IGBT
ρ ions = low ρ ions = increases ρ ions = Maximum ρ ions = Decreases Conclusion / Work to be done
Switch/Element function Steady state 5kv protection Switch/Element function
Allows DC isolating capacitor to charge in minimal time, and reduces Steady state AC protection
pulser transient strain on RF amplifer A High voltage capacitor, tuned @ high pass ~ 500kHz, will be Preserves initial pulse transient across grid by bypassing RF
placed in series w/ RF source to protect from steady state DC A RL filter circuit will be placed in series with the pulser tuned filter
to block rf signals Experimental results show filtering circuits appear to be
Removes signal attenuating element from circuit when protective task is An inductor will be placed in series with the rf amp to block initial
complete The Inductive value must be compatible with the already
attenuating properly
transient Removes bypass element after initial transient allowing RF filter
existing RLC circuit used with the rf amplifier filter to function
Switch Control: external signal generator A small value resistor will be hooked in parallel with the isolation
capacitor to allow rapid charging of the capacitor
Construction and soldering of final product is partially
IGBT emitter is at ground completed, final elements of assembly need to be
Signal preservation Switch Control: internal - current dependant completed
40v control signal used w/ 20 v zener diode at gate To preserve the pulse ‘rise time’ across the grid, a small 5kv source w/ distortion 0.1% has ~5v noise, while IGBT gate
Signal preservation
resistor will be placed in parallel with the L filter, allowing the switching voltage ~ 3v, requires internal source
allows for switch control even when “ground” is experiencing up to 35v The LC circuit will be tuned to pass a 500khz-2mhz signal Switching mechanism and filters need to be tested at
transient signal to pass expected voltages (5kv)
The rapid charge resistor will be switched open so it does not When inductor has charged, this resistor will be switched Switching voltage generated by current transferred across the
interfere with the rf signal open, allowing the inductor to filter AC voltages RF filter element
Uses high voltage IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Equipment will be used on experiment and the POPS
Transistor) technology concept will be tested with higher voltages
allowing 50+ amps steady state current flow, w/ minimal on resistance When ~95% expected current transfers to RF filter element,
voltage across RF element is sufficient to close switch
switching times <0.5uS