Concept Studies have shown the IEC to be one of the most attractive approaches to fusion propulsion, provided the physics and technology involved can be scaled-up to high power levels. A key step involves development of a pulsed IEC that can obtain high ion currents along with good ion confinement. Results from initial pulsed IEC experiments are described here. The obtainment of a D-D fusion neutron yield of at a peak pulse current of 17 A demonstrates that the dynamic formation of the required accelerating fields with the IEC discharge is possible. A next step involves improvement in confinement.
Recent advances in inertial-electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion for space power and propulsion
SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL FORUM - 2000 ; 2000 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 504 , 1 ; 1224-1229
2000-01-19
6 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Recent Advances in Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusion for Space Power and Propulsion
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000
|INERTIAL-ELECTROSTATIC CONFINEMENT (IEC) FOR SPACE PROPULSION AND POWER
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000
|