The Flexible Plasma Trap (FPT) for the production of overdense plasmas

TL;DR

The paper introduces the Flexible Plasma Trap (FPT), a versatile plasma device with adjustable magnetic and microwave injection systems, designed for advanced plasma studies and nuclear physics applications.

Contribution

It presents the design, features, and preliminary diagnostics of the novel FPT, enabling flexible plasma heating schemes for multidisciplinary research.

Findings

FPT can operate with multiple plasma heating configurations.

Microwave launcher with variable tilt angle enhances plasma control.

Preliminary diagnostics confirm FPT's versatile plasma production capabilities.

Abstract

Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources are currently the most efficient ion sources among those used in facilities dedicated to nuclear physics. The need for a more flexible magnetic field and RF injection system suggested to design and develop a different type of plasma trap, named Flexible Plasma Trap (FPT). The magnetic field of FPT is generated by means of three coils while microwaves in the range 4-7 GHz can be injected by three different inputs, one placed along the axis and two placed radially. FPT can work in different plasma heating schemes so it will be an ideal tool for studies of plasma and multidisciplinary physics. Moreover, a microwave launcher has been designed and installed to the FPT for launching microwaves with a variable tilt angle with respect to the magnetic field. This paper describes the characteristics of the FPT along with the preliminary results of plasma diagnostics.