A prototype colliding beam accelerator has been fabricated for the study of a fusion-based propulsion concept for interplanetary exploration. The purpose of this prototype is to demonstrate collider luminosities commensurate with the requirements of this application. While fusion fuels such as p/Li7 and He3/He3 would generate the required thrust characteristics, this prototype currently employs deuterium. Because neutrons are produced via DD fusion with a peak cross section of 0.1 barns, even modest initial luminosities yield event rates suitable for real-time measurements and lifetime monitoring. The proposed luminosity monitor is based on neutron moderation and absorption and subsequent gamma-ray detection. Sodium chloride serves as the moderator, with most neutrons absorbed by chlorine-35 nuclei having a thermal neutron absorption cross section of 43.6 barns. The collider is a linear device employing electrostatic axial confinement and radial focusing. A combination of destructive and nondestructive sensors are employed to monitor various beam parameters such as intensity, energy spectrum, transverse tunes and halo density distribution.
Jackson et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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