Effect of nuclear elastic scattering on the D(d, n)3He fusion reactivity induced by energetic protons observed in the large helical device. (30th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matsuura, H.; Kimura, K.; Umezaki, D.; Ogawa, K.; Isobe, M.; Nishitani, T.; Kawamoto, Y.; Oishi, T.; Goto, M.; Osakabe, M.; Sugiyama, S.
• Is Part Of: Nuclear fusion. Volume 61:Number 9(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07-30
• Subjects: large angle scattering -- nuclear elastic scattering -- fusion reaction rate coefficient -- DD neutrons -- large helical device; Nuclear fusion -- Periodicals; 621.48405
• DOI: 10.1088/1741-4326/ac13e6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-5515

Abstract

Abstract: The enhancement of the fusion reaction rate coefficient induced by energetic protons, which is one of the typical nuclear elastic scattering (NES) effects, was observed in the large helical device (LHD) located at the National Institute for Fusion Science. An intense high purity hydrogen beam (the atomic ratio of the contained deuterium was less than 1 ppm) with ∼170 keV-energy and ∼10 MW-power was injected into a deuterium plasma with the electron temperature ∼9 keV and density ∼10 19 m −3 . After the hydrogen beam injection, the neutron generation rate by the D(d, n) 3 He fusion reaction immediately increased, and an increment of over one order of magnitude was observed, even though there was no meaningful ion temperature variation. The reasons for the increment in the neutron generation rate are discussed with reference to the Boltzmann–Fokker–Planck analysis along with LHD experimental data. It is concluded that the increment was induced by the production of energetic deuterons due to the NES of energetic protons.