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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

PIP-II Beam Current Monitor Fault Case & Beam Position Monitor Linearity Studies in CST Studio

The use of non-invasive sensors & systems to measure particle beam characteristics is a crucial part of modern accelerator control systems. As such, simulations predicting the behavior of these sensors are essential for guiding beamline control system design. This poster details the results returned by two beam sensor models created using CST Studio software: the signal linearity of an elliptical beam position monitor (BPM), and the fault cases of an AC current transformer (ACCT) beam current monitor (BCM).

Rouzky, Adam↗
DOE OSTI2024

Automated Calibration System for Beam Current Monitor

The Beam Current Monitor (BCM) measures the instantaneous current in a beam. This work aims to develop an automated calibration system for the BCM to address the need for calibration without interrupting beam operation. We strive to create a synchronous calibration method integrated into the master timeline by utilizing the pulsed nature of synchrotrons to run calibration pulses during inter-pulse gaps. This improvement should enhance operational efficiency, ensure safe operation, and help mitigate beam loss, all by enabling intermittent calibration during the operation of the accelerator. This is accomplished by developing a Python program that interfaces with a Keithley 6221 DC and AC source and a Keithley 2182A Nanovoltmeter. The program configures both of these devices to perform a selected mode of the current sweep, allows for the initiation of the current sweep, collects the measured voltage data from the 2182A, stores the collected data to the computer in a CSV file, and graphs the collected data.

Haller, James↗
DOE OSTI2024

Initial PIP-II Beam Current Monitor Fault Case Analyses & Beam Position Monitor Linearity Studies in CST Studio Suite

The use of non-invasive sensors & systems to measure particle beam characteristics is a crucial part of modern accelerator control systems due to their ability to return real time beam data while minimizing negative effects on beam quality. To ensure that one can be reasonably confident these sensors will behave as desired upon be-ing implemented within the beamline, simulations pre-dicting the performance of these sensors under beamline conditions can be used as a valuable tool for checking sensor functionality without a physical test bench. This paper details the design, testing, and results of two sensor models developed using CST Studio Suite soft-ware designed to mimic two sensors to be implemented within the PIP-III beamline: an elliptical, large-aperture beam position monitor (BPM) for which vertical & hori-zontal position signal linearity was analyzed, and an AC current transformer (ACCT) beam current monitor (BCM) used to search for potential fault cases within the BCM and beam pipe flange gaps. Special focus is given to the discovery of linearity variations within the BPM and the use of frequency domain techniques in the BCM fault case analyses.

Rouzky, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Induced charging of shuttle orbiter by high electron-beam currents

Emission of high-current electron beams that was proposed for some Spacelab payloads required substantial return currents to the orbiter skin in order to neutralize the beam charge. Since the outer skin of the vehicle was covered with approximately 1200 sq m of thermal insulation which has the dielectric quality of air and an electrical conductivity that was estimated by NASA at 10 to the -9 power to 10 to the -10 power mhos/m, considerable transient charging and local potential differences were anticipated across the insulation. The theory for induced charging of spacecraft due to operation of electron guns was only developed for spherical metal vehicles and constant emission currents, which were not directly applicable to the orbiter situation. Field-aligned collection of electron return current from the ambient ionosphere at orbiter altitudes provides up to approximately 150 mA on the conducting surfaces and approximately 2.4 A on the dielectric thermal insulation. Local ionization of the neutral atmosphere by energetic electron bombardment or electrical breakdown may provide somewhat more return current.

Liemohn, H. B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The DE-AC accelerator system for high beam current density

A radically different ion accelerator system design has been developed to increase the extracted beam current density of ion thrusters. By independently controlling plasma ion extraction and acceleration, the Decoupled Extraction and Amplified Current (DE-AC) accelerator system gives higher beam currents at lower electric field stress levels. Results are presented for DE-AC grid system operation with the Test Bed Ion Engine. Using argon propellant, feasibility of a 60 mA/sq cm beam current density is shown. A discussion of power supply requirements, specific impulse operation and grid system geometrical design is presented also.

Aston, G.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Correlation of ion and beam current densities in Kaufman thrusters.

In the absence of direct impingement erosion, electrostatic thruster accelerator grid lifetime is defined by the charge exchange erosion that occurs at peak values of the ion beam current density. In order to maximize the thrust from an engine with a specified grid lifetime, the ion beam current density profile should therefore be as flat as possible. Knauer (1970) has suggested this can be achieved by establishing a radial plasma uniformity within the thruster discharge chamber; his tests with the radial field thruster provide an example of uniform plasma properties within the chamber and a flat ion beam profile occurring together. It is shown that, in particular, the ion density profile within the chamber determines the beam current density profile, and that a uniform ion density profile at the screen grid end of the discharge chamber should lead to a flat beam current density profile.

Wilbur, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Auger electron spectroscopy at high spatial resolution and nA primary beam currents

An experimental Auger microprobe system is described which incorporates a field-emission electron gun and total beam currents in the nanoampere range. The distinguishing characteristics of this system include a large multistation UHV specimen chamber, pulse counting and fully digital Auger signal-processing techniques, and digital referencing methods to eliminate the effects of beam instabilities. Some preliminary results obtained with this system are described, and it is concluded that field-emission electron sources can be used for high-resolution Auger electron spectroscopy with primary-beam spots of less than 100 nm and beam currents of the order of 1 nA.

Todd, G.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Spatially-Resolved Beam Current and Charge-State Distributions for the NEXT Ion Engine

Plume characterization tests with the 36-cm NEXT ion engine are being performed at The Aerospace Corporation using engineering-model and prototype-model thrusters. We have examined the beam current density and xenon charge-state distribution as functions of position on the accel grid. To measure the current density ratio j++/j+, a collimated Eprobe was rotated through the plume with the probe oriented normal to the accel electrode surface at a distance of 82 cm. The beam current density jb versus radial position was measured with a miniature planar probe at 3 cm from the accel. Combining the j++/j+ and jb data yielded the ratio of total Xe+2 current to total Xe+1 current (J++/J+) at forty operating points in the standard throttle table. The production of Xe+2 and Xe+3 was measured as a function of propellant utilization to support performance and lifetime predictions for an extended throttle table. The angular dependence of jb was measured at intermediate and far-field distances to assist with plume modeling and to evaluate the thrust loss due to beam divergence. Thrust correction factors were derived from the total doubles-to-singles current ratio and from the far-field divergence data

Pollard, James E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Design, performance, and calculated error of a Faraday cup for absolute beam current measurements of 600-MeV protons

A mobile self-contained Faraday cup system for beam current measurments of nominal 600 MeV protons was designed, constructed, and used at the NASA Space Radiation Effects Laboratory. The cup is of reentrant design with a length of 106.7 cm and an outside diameter of 20.32 cm. The inner diameter is 15.24 cm and the base thickness is 30.48 cm. The primary absorber is commercially available lead hermetically sealed in a 0.32-cm-thick copper jacket. Several possible systematic errors in using the cup are evaluated. The largest source of error arises from high-energy electrons which are ejected from the entrance window and enter the cup. A total systematic error of -0.83 percent is calculated to be the decrease from the true current value. From data obtained in calibrating helium-filled ion chambers with the Faraday cup, the mean energy required to produce one ion pair in helium is found to be 30.76 + or - 0.95 eV for nominal 600 MeV protons. This value agrees well, within experimental error, with reported values of 29.9 eV and 30.2 eV.

Beck, S. M.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Design of digital acquisition for beam current monitor

As a part of the Proton Improvement Plan – II (PIP-II) at Fermilab, instrumentation systems are being modernized to take advantage of the higher speeds and ease of use offered by standardized embedded systems like MicroTCA. A rear-transition module (RTM) is being designed to interface with said embedded systems. In each of the four identical channels on the RTM, the differential signal from an alternating-current current transformer (ACCT) transimpedance amplifier will again be amplified by a differential operation-amplifier, then filtered by a low-pass topology. The conditioned signal is then digitized at a maximum of 10MS/s by an analog to digital converter (ADC) integrated circuit. After digitization, the ADC passes the data to an off the shelf AdvancedMC (AMC) Xilinx FPGA module using low voltage differential signals. This paper will describe the simulation of analog circuitry for signal conditioning, simulation of digital signal integrity based on physical design as well as verification of design characteristics critical to signal integrity. This work aims to create a methodology that can be applied to future RTMs requiring application of high-speed digital design principles.

White, R.Turner [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Design of Digital Acquisition for Beam Current Monitor

As a part of the Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II) at Fermilab, instrumentation systems are being modernized to take advantage of the higher speeds and ease of use offered by standardized embedded systems like MicroTCA. A rear-transition module (RTM) is being designed to interface with said embedded systems. In each of the four identical channels on the RTM, the differential signal from an alternating-current current transformer (ACCT) transimpedance amplifier will again be amplified by a differential operation-amplifier, then filtered by a low-pass topology. The conditioned signal is then digitized at a maximum of 10MS/s by an analog to digital converter (ADC) integrated circuit. After digitization, the ADC passes the data to an off the shelf AdvancedMC (AMC) Xilinx FPGA module using low voltage differential signals. This paper will describe the simulation of analog circuitry for signal conditioning, simulation of digital signal integrity based on physical design as well as verification of design characteristics critical to signal integrity. This work aims to create a methodology that can be applied to future RTMs requiring application of high-speed digital design principles.

White, Turner [Fermilab] (ORCID:0009000348159256)↗
NASA NTRS1965

Detector circuit compensates for vidicon beam current variations

Signal detector circuit compensates for black level shifts in vidicons by dark current cancellation. It clamps the video signal to the dark current component of the signal. The device also compensates for background noise variation or transducer bias fluctuations in other repetitive pulse systems.

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