Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “helicon source”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2

MPEX High Heat Flux Plasma Dump Design, Manufacture, and Articles Test

Here, the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) device is a steady-state linear plasma device currently in the final design phase at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This device will reach ion fluences up to 10 31 m -2 and will be used to expose neutron-irradiated materials to divertor-relevant plasmas and to study the effects of plasma-material interactions. These studies will elucidate the complex effects of plasmas with divertor candidate materials capable of withstanding high heat flux and high fluences for next-generation fusion devices. Bidirectional plasma will be generated using a high-power (200 kW) helicon source. Plasma will be confined by superconducting magnets. The last plasma-facing component on the upstream side of the MPEX device is the dump, which has been designed to intercept plasma and energetic particles. The dump will have a total heat load of 9.2 kW. A copper alloy (Glidcop AL-15) was selected for use in the water-cooled flange design because of its high thermal conductivity, its retaining strength at elevated temperatures, and its ability to be used in the high-temperature braze joints used in this application. Titanium-zirconium-molybdenum (TZM) tiles are brazed to the Glidcop AL-15 flange using high-temperature braze alloy. External water-cooling channels are used on the dump flange to prevent water leakage inside the vacuum space. This article discusses the details of the high heat flux dump design, including the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and structural analyses performed to validate the design to meet the operational requirements of the MPEX device.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Helicon Plasma Injector and Ion Cyclotron Acceleration Development in the VASIMR Experiment

In the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) radio frequency (rf) waves both produce the plasma and then accelerate the ions. The plasma production is done by action of helicon waves. These waves are circular polarized waves in the direction of the electron gyromotion. The ion acceleration is performed by ion cyclotron resonant frequency (ICRF) acceleration. The Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL) is actively developing efficient helicon plasma production and ICRF acceleration. The VASIMR experimental device at the ASPL is called VX-10. It is configured to demonstrate the plasma production and acceleration at the 10kW level to support a space flight demonstration design. The VX-10 consists of three electromagnets integrated into a vacuum chamber that produce magnetic fields up to 0.5 Tesla. Magnetic field shaping is achieved by independent magnet current control and placement of the magnets. We have generated both helium and hydrogen high density (>10(exp 18) cu m) discharges with the helicon source. ICRF experiments are underway. This paper describes the VX-10 device, presents recent results and discusses future plans.

Squire, Jared P.↗

Ion heating in the PISCES-RF liquid-cooled high-power, steady-state, helicon plasma device

Radio frequency (RF) driven helicon plasma sources are commonly used for their ability to produce high-density argon plasmas ( n > 10 19 m -3 ) at relatively moderate powers (typical RF power < 2 kW). Typical electron temperatures are <10 eV and typical ion temperatures are <0.6 eV. A newly designed helicon antenna assembly (with concentric, double-layered, fully liquid-cooled RF-transparent windows) operates in steady-state at RF powers up to 10 kW. We report on the dependence of argon plasma density, electron temperature and ion temperature on RF power. At 10 kW, ion temperatures >2 eV in argon plasmas are measured with laser induced fluorescence, which is consistent with a simple volume averaged 0D power balance model. 1D Monte Carlo simulations of the neutral density profile for these plasma conditions show strong neutral depletion near the core and predict neutral temperatures well above room temperatures. The plasmas created in this high-power helicon source (when light ions are employed) are ideally suited for fusion divertor plasma-material interaction studies and negative ion production for neutral beams.

Physics↗

Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Magnetic Mirrors on Plasma Transport in the Prototype Material Plasma Exposure Experiment

The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is developing a helicon radio frequency (RF) source for plasma production along with microwave electron heating and RF ion heating. Proto-MPEX has several magnetic mirrors that affect plasma transport. The magnetic field near the helicon source is ~ 0.05 T, and the peak magnetic field in Proto-MPEX is ~ 1.8 T, which results in a large magnetic well for particles sourced at the helicon transporting toward the target region. Keeping the helicon source field and the target field constant, experiments have been conducted by methodically changing the magnetic field, at a local axial location, within the source and the target. Plasma flow measurements using Mach probes have shown a decrease in the flow as a function of the magnetic mirror ratio. Plasma flows were further investigated with ion cyclotron resonant heating (ICH). Results with the addition of ICH measured upstream of the antenna have shown a decrease in Mach number as a function of mirror ratio when compared to helicon discharges. Such flow behavior demonstrated slowing down of the plasma due to the increased reverse plasma flow toward the helicon plasma source. However, in high magnetic fields, when the resonant magnetic field moved away from the ICH antenna, no effects on the plasma flow due to ICH were observed.

Kafle, Nischal↗

Impurity transport in PISCES-RF

Linear plasma devices (LPD) utilizing a helicon plasma source, a high density light ion source, can generate impurities due to progressive erosion of the radio frequency (RF) transmission window caused by rectified sheath voltage. These source-born impurities can entrain and be transported by the plasma toward a target, affecting plasma-material interaction studies. Earlier work on material testing in Prototype-Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment at ORNL revealed significant source impurity deposition on downstream targets. However, using a similar RF source, no target impurity deposition is observed in Plasma Interaction Surface Component Experimental Station (PISCES)-RF despite evidence of RF window erosion in the source region, thereby motivating the present work. Experimentally, using various magnetic field configurations upstream of the PISCES-RF plasma source and seeding titanium (Ti) impurities at various axial locations, impurity transport and deposition along the machine axis were investigated. It was found that Ti deposition was localized to the side of the plasma source where the Ti impurity was seeded. In contrast, aluminum (Al) deposition, originating from the sputtering of the helicon window, occurred predominantly upstream of the plasma source, suggesting an asymmetry in the axial transport of eroded RF window material. These observations suggest a stagnation of the parallel plasma flow immediately downstream of the plasma source, with impurity ions remaining unmagnetized near the source upstream. Al deposition in magnetic field-free regions in PISCES-RF indicates that sputtered Al impurities likely remained neutral due to their large ionization mean-free path under PISCES-RF conditions. Plasma modeling and simulation supported this, indicating that Al-neutrals transport toward the helicon source upstream for low electron density cases. It was found that the Larmor radius of the Al ions was greater than the plasma radius towards the source upstream and remained weakly magnetized in PISCES-RF, meaning that plasma source-born impurities are not efficiently entrained in the plasma flow. These findings provide critical insights into impurity transport in helicon plasma-based LPDs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Physical and technical basis of Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment from modeling and Proto-MPEX results *

Abstract The Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) is a steady-state linear plasma device that will address plasma-material interaction (PMI) science and enable testing of fusion reactor-relevant divertor plasma-facing materials. The MPEX source concept consists of a helicon plasma source to generate the plasma, electron cyclotron heating (ECH) for electron heating, and ion cyclotron heating (ICH) for ion heating. The MPEX source plasma is then transported axially to the PMI material target region to test material samples in fusion reactor-relevant divertor conditions. This paper will summarize the physical and technical basis of MPEX. The paper will first define the MPEX parameters and scenarios at the target relevant to PMI science for various fusion reactor-relevant divertor conditions and show plasma transport modeling results to set the MPEX source parameters. Recent experimental and modeling results from Proto-MPEX, a short-pulse experiment to develop the plasma production, heating, and transport physics for MPEX, will be shown. From these results, it will be shown that MPEX can reach its desired scenarios. The MPEX physical and technical basis will also determine important functional requirements for magnetic field, radiofrequency (RF) power, RF frequency, and neutral pressure in the helicon, ECH, ICH, and PMI regions that are required to achieve the desired MPEX scenarios. The necessity for key in-vessel components such as skimmers, limiters, and microwave absorbers will also be highlighted.

Lau, C. (ORCID:0000000285765867)↗

PISCES-RF: a liquid-cooled high-power steady-state helicon plasma device

Radio-frequency (RF) driven helicon plasma sources can produce relatively high-density plasmas (n > 1019 m -3 ) at relatively moderate powers (<2 kW) in argon. However, to produce similar high-density plasmas for fusion relevant gases such as hydrogen (H), deuterium (D) and helium (He), much higher RF powers are needed. For very high RF powers, thermal issues of the RF-transparent dielectric window, used in the RF source design, limit the plasma operation timescales. To mitigate this constraint, we have designed, built and tested a novel helicon plasma source assembly with a fully liquid-cooled RF-transparent window which allows steady state operations at high power (up to 20 kW) and successfully produces high-density plasma with both argon and H. Deionized (DI) water, flowing between two concentric dielectric RF windows, is used as the coolant. We show that a full azimuthal blanket of DI water does not prevent high-density plasma production. From calorimetry on the DI water, we measure the net heat removed by the coolant at steady state conditions. Using infra-red imaging, we calculate the constant plasma heat deposition and measure the final steady state temperature distribution patterns on the inner surface of the ceramic layer. The heat deposition pattern follows the helical shape of the antenna. We also show the consistency between the heat absorbed by the DI water, as measured by calorimetry, and the total heat due to the combined effect of the plasma heating and the absorbed RF. These results are being used to answer critical engineering questions for the 200 kW RF device materials plasma exposure experiment being designed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a next generation plasma material interaction device.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Overview of Advanced Electromagnetic Propulsion Development at NASA Glenn Research Center

NASA Glenn Research Center s Very High Power Electric Propulsion task is sponsored by the Energetics Heritage Project. Electric propulsion technologies currently being investigated under this program include pulsed electromagnetic plasma thrusters, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, helicon plasma sources as well as the systems models for high power electromagnetic propulsion devices. An investigation and evaluation of pulsed electromagnetic plasma thruster performance at energy levels up to 700 Joules is underway. On-going magnetoplasmadynamic thruster experiments will investigate applied-field performance characteristics of gas-fed MPDs. Plasma characterization of helicon plasma sources will provide additional insights into the operation of this novel propulsion concept. Systems models have been developed for high power electromagnetic propulsion concepts, such as pulsed inductive thrusters and magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters to enable an evaluation of mission-optimized designs.

Pencil, Eric J.↗

Magnetic Dipole Inflation with Cascaded ARC and Applications to Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion

Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) seeks to create a plasma-inflated magnetic bubble capable of intercepting significant thrust from the solar wind for the purposes of high speed, high efficiency spacecraft propulsion. Previous laboratory experiments into the M2P2 concept have primarily used helicon plasma sources to inflate the dipole magnetic field. The work presented here uses an alternative plasma source, the cascaded arc, in a geometry similar to that used in previous helicon experiments. Time resolved measurements of the equatorial plasma density have been conducted and the results are discussed. The equatorial plasma density transitions from an initially asymmetric configuration early in the shot to a quasisymmetric configuration during plasma production, and then returns to an asymmetric configuration when the source is shut off. The exact reasons for these changes in configuration are unknown, but convection of the loaded flux tube is suspected. The diffusion time was found to be an order of magnitude longer than the Bohm diffusion time for the period of time after the plasma source was shut off. The data collected indicate the plasma has an electron temperature of approximately 11 eV, an order of magnitude hotter than plasmas generated by cascaded arcs operating under different conditions. In addition, indirect evidence suggests that the plasma has a beta of order unity in the source region.

Giersch, L.↗

Understanding carbon sourcing and transport originating from the helicon antenna surfaces during high-power helicon discharge in DIII-D Tokamak

The high-power helicon wave system in the DIII-D tokamak could potentially introduce new plasma–material interaction (PMI) challenges owing to rectified RF sheath potentials that develop near the antenna and surrounding plasma-facing components. We present the first application of the STRIPE (Simulated Transport of RF Impurity Production and Emission) framework to helicon-induced PMIs, extending previous STRIPE studies of ICRH antennas by incorporating net erosion, local re-deposition, and three-dimensional global impurity transport. The integrated workflow couples SOLPS, COMSOL, RustBCA, GITR, and GITRm to simulate carbon erosion, re-deposition, and impurity transport for two experimentally constrained DIII-D H-mode helicon operating scenarios with different antenna–plasma gaps, coupled RF powers, and edge plasma conditions. COMSOL predicts rectified RF sheath potentials of 1–5 kV localized near the lower portion of the antenna, where the magnetic field intersects the surface at grazing incidence. Carbon self-sputtering dominates the erosion source, whereas RF-accelerated D + ions contribute approximately 1% of the total gross erosion. The smaller-gap operating scenario exhibits substantially stronger gross erosion, enhanced local re-deposition (∼12%), and a larger confined carbon inventory owing to increased plasma accessibility and broader RF sheath coverage. Comparison with available DIII-D measurements shows no distinct change in the global carbon signal that correlates with the helicon RF pulse, consistent with the simulations indicating that the helicon-generated carbon source remains small compared with the existing background carbon inventory under the present graphite-wall operating conditions. These results demonstrate the capability of STRIPE to integrate RF sheath modeling, plasma transport, surface interaction physics, and three-dimensional impurity transport for the interpretation of helicon-induced PMIs. The study further identifies the principal sources of modeling uncertainty, including grazing-angle RF sheath physics, slow-wave resolution, plasma-background extrapolation, and trace-impurity transport assumptions, providing a framework for future validation and model development.

Kumar, Atul [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL),↗

Recent Progress on the VASIMR

Experimental and theoretical studies on the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) have continued through a NASA led collaborative program involving several research groups. In the experimental area, performance characterization of the VASIMR helicon plasma source has been obtained over a portion of the parameter space, with helium and hydrogen propellant. Density (10(exp 18) - 10(exp 19)/ cubic meter) and temperature (5 eV) were measured at moderate degree of ionization in two separate experimental devices. Helicon design improvement and optimization will be discussed. Experiments with the ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) subsection have begun and preliminary results will be discussed. Theoretical picture and integrated numerical simulation continue to be refined to account for the main physics elements of the VASIMR, including RF absorption and particle acceleration with subsequent detachment in the magnetic nozzle.

ChangDiaz, Franklin R.↗

MPEX AI Digital Twins

All magnetically confined plasma fusion power plant concepts (Tokamak, Spherical Tokamak, Stellarator, Mirror, ...) must exhaust the heat and plasma from the core confinement region to the material walls. The primary channel for this exhaust is through a plasma divertor which directs plasma along open magnetic field lines to a material target. The Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) illustrated in Figure 1, is a high-power, steady-state linear plasma device designed to produce the plasma material interaction (PMI) conditions of the divertor of future magnetic confinement fusion power plants: energy flux 20MW/m 2 , ion fluence 1031/m 2 , pulse duration 106 sec. These goals of plasma exposure in MPEX are well beyond those achieved in magnetic fusion experimental devices. Successfully achieving these high power steady state conditions for long pulses requires operational control of the heating and particle sources and the plasma flux to the walls and target. The MPEX AI Hot Spot Controller, proposed in this project, will help achieve the operational milestones of MPEX. The MPEX device will begin commissioning at the end of FY26. A smaller proto-MPEX was operated for 14,666 plasma discharges and will resume operation in September of 2025 as proto-MPEX-lite, with reduced capability, to test a new window for the Helicon plasma source. The proto-MPEX data has undergone surrogate modeling with machine learning methods (R. Archibald, 2022 IEEE International Conference on Big Data). This proto-MPEX data will be used to begin development of the AI digital twins described in this white paper. The scientific mission of MPEX is to qualify materials of different composition for use in the high energy and plasma flux conditions of a fusion power plant. The materials exposed in MPEX will in some cases be exposed to high neutron fluxes at other ORNL facilities to measure the changes to their PMI properties. The targets exposed in MPEX will be transported under vacuum to a Surface Analysis Station (SAS). The SAS will be equipped with the following diagnostics: Focused Ion Beam (FIB) for trench milling, 100-400 angstrom resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM), surface mapping x-ray spectrometer, high resolution camera, and a future upgrade to a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy quadruple mass spectrometer (LIBS-QMS). The MPEX experiments will generate diverse pre- and post-exposure measurement data of detailed material properties down to the crystal grain level in 3D for post-exposure assessment of PMI damage (e.g. cracking, melting, erosion and redeposition of the material). Physics models for the PMI, and how the material composition and manufacturing impact its performance under high energy plasma exposure, need to be validated with MPEX data to guide the selection of new candidate materials. Our vision for the MPEX AI Digital Twins project is to supply experimental and physics model simulation data to train Artificial Intelligence (AI) models for data processing, analysis, operational control, PMI and materials simulation to maximize the scientific output of the MPEX device. Ultimately, an AI digital twin of MPEX material assessment metrics for tested and synthetic material types with simulated PMI will be trained by the AI Modeling Teams on the experimental and physics simulation data submitted to the American Science Cloud by this project. A purely empirical search for the best material is inefficient given the finite number of samples that can be tested on MPEX. In order to expand the material properties database for training the MPEX Material Assessment AI Digital Twin, and to gain physics understanding of the PMI processes, physics models of the material properties and PMI processes are required. The physics simulations provide detailed simulation data, like impact angles for plasma ions, sputtering yields, transport of the ionized sputtered target material in the plasma, and redeposition locations. This simulation data expands the measurement data for deeper physics understanding. The experimental data is essential to validate the PMI and material structure simulation models. The validated models can then be used to generate new simulation data of MPEX material assessments for synthetic material compositions that have not been exposed in MPEX. These predictive simulations, plus the whole experimental dataset, will be used to train the MPEX Material Assessment AI Digital Twin allowing a rapid generative AI search for new materials with reduced PMI damage by interpolating the domain of the training set. These new optimum materials can be simulated with the physics codes and/or tested in MPEX. The ability of AI neural networks to interpolate multi-dimensional parameter spaces and generate virtual data is exploited for a more efficient search for optimum materials. The advent of the Transformational AI Models Consortium (TAIMC) is an opportunity to engage with state of the art private and public AI developers to achieve the goals of the AI digital twins and AI accelerated physics models proposed in this project. Our partners at ORNL from the Advance Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) organization will collaborate in accelerating the integrated plasma material interaction simulation framework. This simulation framework will provide a platform for generating simulation data across a range of physical fidelities, including hybrid methods that produce multi-fidelity results. This data will be leveraged for AI model development, both for generation of surrogates and the automation of simulation campaigns. A part of the research below will include collaborative efforts with the TAIMC to (i) adapt data storage approaches to ensure AI-readiness, (ii) provide a protypical exemplar to inform and exercise constructed workflows, and (iii) generate and share data, using the TAIMC unified AI data standard, for foundational models that will be trained from multiple sources across the DOE complex. We will also collaborate with the TAIMC, as well as the planned AI modeling teams, to develop approaches for reducing the cost of data generation. These include tailored multi-fidelity approaches as well as fine-tuning strategies to augment general, large-scale foundational models.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Continuous-wave planar laser induced fluorescence with a fast camera

We present planar, laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) measurements of the velocity-resolved distribution function of ions in a plasma using a modulated, narrow linewidth, continuous-wave laser. Plasma emission is acquired with a high frame rate camera, and the laser light is spread into a thin sheet so that an entire plane of the plasma is imaged at each interrogation wavelength. Fourier analysis is conducted on each pixel of the images to separate the modulated fluorescent emission from the background light. Argon ion temperatures and bulk flow maps are reported in a helicon plasma source, and standard single-point LIF measurements provide validation of the PLIF measurement.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Ion cyclotron heating at high plasma density in Proto-MPEX

The physics of ion cyclotron heating (ICH) relevant to the steady-state linear machine MPEX (Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment) has been explored in its predecessor, short-pulse device: Proto-MPEX. MPEX will utilize fundamental ICH to increase heat flux at the target and produce ion temperatures and velocity distributions with improved fidelity to those found in a tokamak divertor region, in comparison to those produced by substrate biasing. In the experiments on Proto-MPEX described here, bulk ion temperatures up to ~15 eV have been achieved with 20 kW net ICH power at 6.5 MHz, using ICH heating of a deuterium plasma produced by a helicon plasma source. The heat flux at the target has been observed to increase throughout the plasma cross section, including in the core region. Core $T_i$ and target heat flux are observed to scale linearly with injected ICH power. Further, measurements of plasma loading and target heat flux as a function of the magnetic field strength at the antenna, together with modeling of the wave propagation from the antenna to the ion cyclotron resonance using the ANTENA and COMSOL codes with a warm plasma dielectric tensor, indicate that power is coupled to the core plasma via fast wave excitation of a kinetic Alfvén wave.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Helicon Wave Physics Impacts on Electrodeless Thruster Design

Effective generation of helicon waves for high density plasma sources is determined by the dispersion relation and plasma power balance. Helicon wave plasma sources inherently require an applied magnetic field of .01-0.1 T, an antenna properly designed to couple to the helicon wave in the plasma, and an rf power source in the 10-100 s of MHz, depending on propellant choice. For a plasma thruster, particularly one with a high specific impulse (>2000 s), the physics of the discharge would also have to address the use of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heating and magnetic expansion. In all cases the system design includes an optimized magnetic field coil, plasma source chamber, and antenna. A preliminary analysis of such a system, calling on experimental data where applicable and calculations where required, has been initiated at Glenn Research Center. Analysis results showing the mass scaling of various components as well as thruster performance projections and their impact on thruster size are discussed.

Gilland, James↗

Helicon Wave Physics Impacts on Electrodeless Thruster Design

Effective generation of helicon waves for high density plasma sources is determined by the dispersion relation and plasma power balance. Helicon wave plasma sources inherently require an applied magnetic field of .01-0.1 T, an antenna properly designed to couple to the helicon wave in the plasma, and an rf power source in the 10-100 s of MHz, depending on propellant choice. For a plasma thruster, particularly one with a high specific impulse (>2000 s), the physics of the discharge would also have to address the use of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heating and magnetic expansion. In all cases the system design includes an optimized magnetic field coil, plasma source chamber, and antenna. A preliminary analysis of such a system, calling on experimental data where applicable and calculations where required, has been initiated at Glenn Research Center. Analysis results showing the mass scaling of various components as well as thruster performance projections and their impact on thruster size are discussed.

Gilland, James H.↗

RF sheath induced sputtering on Proto-MPEX part 2: Impurity transport modeling and experimental comparison

The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) is a pulsed linear plasma device that uses a radio frequency (RF) helicon antenna and a helicon ceramic window as the plasma ionization source. Modeling performed within this work on the helicon operations predicts hot spots on the helicon ceramic window due to an RF-induced sheath. The RF sheath potential leads to physical sputtering of the ceramic window predominantly where the helicon antenna sits around the helicon window. The role of oxygen in sputtering within Proto-MPEX is also investigated and is needed to match the experimental data. Experiments on Proto-MPEX show reasonable agreement with the modeled erosion/redeposition pattern on the helicon window, and the modeled impurity flux to the target shows radial transport within the device as expected from classical collisional impurity transport. Temperature screening of impurities is shown to be needed for Proto-MPEX to reduce impurity flux to the target. The modeling approach used in this work can be applied to other plasma RF applications for the determination of impurity production and transport.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗