Experimental research and end-to-end simulation of the miniature linear accelerator

Abstract

In this paper, an experimental study of a miniature linear accelerator with Penning ion sours was carried out. Experimental equipment and measurement methods are described in detail. The MLA operating characteristics are determined – the current waveforms amplitude-time characteristics (discharge and extraction currents) are measured. The neutron flux and the extraction current dependences on the discharge current at various accelerating voltage are obtained. The paper also considers end-to-end simulation MLA by PIC (Particle-In-Cell) with MCC (Monte-Carlo Calculation) implemented in the Tech-X VSim 9.0 software. On the first stage, gas discharge in the penning ion source is simulated and its quasi stationary mode is determined. On the second stage, the following processes were simulated: a) charge particles motion in ion-optical system (IOS) of MLA (taking into account kinetic processes), b) sputtering of MLA elements, c) thermal desorption of hydrogen ions under the ion radiation influence. The result of simulation is obtaining dependences of neutron yield on time and of neutron on target current, as well as validation with experimental data.