Impact of a multi-pole cusp magnetic field on inertial electrostatic confinement fusion device performance

Abstract Inertial electrostatic confinement fusion (IECF) devices hold promise as compact neutron sources for scientific and industrial applications. This study explores the enhancement of plasma confinement and neutron yield in an IECF device using a multi-pole cusp magnetic field configuration. Conventional IECF systems face challenges related to ion confinement, electron losses, and low neutron production rates. To address these limitations, a modified IECF device incorporating a multi-pole cusp magnetic cage is developed. Finite element method magnetics simulations and experimental measurements confirmed the effectiveness of this magnetic configuration in improving plasma confinement by reducing electron losses and increasing ion density. Plasma characterization using Langmuir probes demonstrated a significant rise in ion density, reaching 2 × 10 16 m −3 at −1000 V cathode potential. High-voltage fusion experiments showed a notable enhancement in neutron production, achieving a neutron yield of 10 7 ns −1 at an operating power of 250 W, an order of magnitude improvement over non-magnetic IECF setups. These findings highlight the potential of multi-pole cusp magnetic fields in optimizing IECF performance, paving the way for future advancements in neutron generation and fusion research.