EAST-NBI Ion Source Achieves 100s Long Pulse Arc Discharge

Stable and repeatable 100-second long pulse arc discharges were achieved on EAST’s megawatt NBI ion source on the test bed in Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP), a milestone in the development of high current ion source. 

　  300A Arc current,100s pulse width and 30kW arc power output were applied during the discharge. Based on the plasma density measurement, the feedback control was employed on the ion source arc discharge test to achieve stable arc discharge. 

　  NBI heating is one of the most important auxiliary heating methods on tokamaks. The powerful high-current ion source is one of the key components of EAST 4MW NBI system and the most precision part. This successful discharge lays a sound foundation for the beam extraction and future relative ion source performance tests. ( Xie Yahong Reports)