A Multi-megawatt Long Pulse Ion Source of Neutral Beam Injector for the KSTAR

A multi-megawatt long pulse ion source (LPIS) of neutral beam injector was developed for the KSTAR. Beam extraction experiments of the LPIS were carried out at the neutral beam test stand (NBTS). Design requirements for the ion source were 120 kV/65 A deuterium beam and a 300 s pulse length. A maximum ion density of $9.1310^{11}$ $cm^{-3}$ was measured by using electric probes, and an optimum arc efficiency of 0.46 A/kW was estimated with ion saturation current of the probes, arc power, and total beam area. An arcing problem, caused by the structural defect of decelerating grid supporter, in the third gap was solved by the blocking of backstream ion particles, originated from the plasma in the neutralizer duct, through the unnecessary spaces on the side of grid supporter. A maximum drain power of 1.5 MW (i.e. 70 kV/21 A) with hydrogen was measured for a pulse duration of 0.5 s. Optimum beam perveance was ranged from 0.75 to 0.85. An improved design of accelerator for the effective control of beam particle trajectory should provide higher beam perveance.