Diagnostic Resource Teams to Support the Validation of Potentially Transformative Fusion-Energy Concepts
California Institute of Technology
TRANSPORTABLE THOMSON SCATTERING DIAGNOSTIC FOR MEASURING DENSITY AND TEMPERATURE IN FUSION-RELEVANT MAGNETIZED INERTIAL FUSION PLASMAS - $400,000.00
Support design, operation, and data analysis for a transportable Thomson scattering diagnostic to provide a direct measurement of the temperature and density of magnetized inertial fusion experiments. The system will measure the electron density and temperature and so confirm whether experiments have reached fusion-relevant parameters.
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
ABSOLUTE NEUTRON RATE MEASUREMENT AND NON-THERMAL/THERMONUCLEAR FUSION DIFFERENTIATION - $1,326,530.00
Design, build and operate a robust, portable neutron detection system that will serve as a powerful diagnostic tool in support of efforts to transform fusion energy. The tool’s design will allow for a flexible and mobile experimental setup, enabling it to provide effective, expertly calibrated, diagnostic measurements at multiple fusion facilities.
LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
PORTABLE NEUTRON AND SOFT X-RAY DIAGNOSTICS FOR TRANSFORMATIVE FUSION-ENERGY CONCEPTS - $630,000.00
Develop a portable suite of soft x-ray diagnostics to characterize the performance of a number of fusion energy concepts. The tool will estimate core electron temperature, and use time resolved spectroscopy to monitor the time evolution of experimental fusion plasmas. With the use of a framing camera, the team also expects to be able to identify hot regions and structures in the plasma.
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
A PORTABLE DIAGNOSTIC PACKAGE FOR SPECTROSCOPIC MEASUREMENT OF KEY PLASMA PARAMETERS IN TRANSFORMATIVE FUSION ENERGY DEVICES - $1,106,000.00
Assemble a portable diagnostic package to make measurements of key plasma parameters, including electron temperature. Unprecedented diagnostic portability will be achieved through innovative use of off-the-shelf components and specialized, highly portable lasers. This portable diagnostic package will be capable of providing radial profiles of electron density and temperature as well as radial profiles of ion density, temperature, and flow velocity on a variety of fusion energy devices.
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
LLE DIAGNOSTIC RESOURCE TEAM FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF INNOVATIVE FUSION CONCEPTS - $1,000,000.00
Form a diagnostic team to provide travelling neutron diagnostics including calibrations, analysis techniques, and expert consultants to fusion projects. Neutron time-of-flight (nTOF) detectors will be deployed to multiple fusion projects, providing calibrated, expert measurement of plasma properties.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS
ELECTRON DENSITY PROFILE MEASUREMENTS USING USPR - $443,863.00
Fabricate an ultrashort pulse reflectometer (USPR) diagnostic instrument for electron density profile measurements on compact, short duration, magnetically-confined fusion-energy concept device. Central to the system is a field programmable gate array based controller which will collect and process all of the USPR data in addition to generating all of the control signals needed for maximum flexibility.
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
A PORTABLE OPTICAL THOMSON SCATTERING SYSTEM - $2,000,000.00
Implement an optical Thomson scattering diagnostic to measure electron density and temperature, as well as ion temperature. This approach could transform the understanding of the underlying physics of each fusion concept by providing local, time resolved measurements of plasma conditions.
PRINCETON PLASMA PHYSICS LABORATORY
A PORTABLE ENERGY DIAGNOSTIC FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ARPA-E FUSION ENERGY R&D - $290,000.00
Build and calibrate a portable diagnostic for measuring ion energies in potentially transformative fusion-power projects. This portable passive charge-exchange stripping-cell ion energy analyzer (SC-IEA), will feature lightweight design, due to modern vacuum equipment and controls. The SC-IEA will measure ion temperature and the ion energy distribution function (IEDF)--understanding and controlling the IEDF is critical to achieving fusion energy.