基于新型金属氘化物电极的真空弧离子源性能研究

Study of vacuum arc ion source based on a novel alloy deuteride cathode

采用金属氘化物电极的真空弧离子源,可产生强流氘离子束,在中子发生器、强流加速器等领域有着广泛的应用前景。本文针对一种新型金属氘化物材料(Zr0.45Ti0.5Cu0.05Dx),研究了基于该材料制作的电极源片,及其表面状态和晶体结构,并通过磁质谱分析方法研究了采用该电极源片的真空弧离子源放电性能。研究结果表明:这种新型金属氘化物材料吸氘(金属氘原子比约1:(1.6~1.7))前后体涨约18%,表面无宏观裂纹;微观下存在微细裂纹,裂纹宽度均小于100 nm。离子源放电获得的氘离子成分比例较普通氘化钛电极情况稳定性高。另外,随着放电弧流的增加,氘离子比例有所下降,表明大放电弧流下,源片中低熔点的铜元素气化量增大,降低了氘原子的电离效率。本文研究为基于金属氘化物电极的真空弧离子源电极材料选择提供了一种新的选择。

[Background] The vacuum arc ion source with metal deuteride electrodes can generate high current deuterium ion beam, hence can be widely used in neutron generators, high-intensity accelerators and other fields.[Purpose] This study aims to introduce a novel alloy deuteride electrode(Zr0.45Ti0.5Cu0.05Dx). [Methods] The novel alloy material was made by vacuum levitation melting with Ti, Zr, and Cu. The deuteride electrode(Zr0.45Ti0.5Cu0.05Dx)was made in a high temperature deuteration apparatus. The material properties of the electrode and the discharge of the vacuum arc ion source were analyzed. In addition, composition of deuterium alloy cathode produced by vacuum arc discharge was analyzed by the magnetic analysis technology. The stability of the deuterium composition was compared with the traditional titanium deuteride electrode ion source. [Results] The volume expansion of the novel alloy deuteride(MDx, x=1.6~1.7) is about 18%. Macroscopic crack on the surface of the alloy deuteride is found by naked eyes while some micro cracks can be seen by the scanning electron microscope(SEM). The size of the micro cracks is less than 100 nm. [Conclusions] The novel alloy deuteride electrode(Zr0.45Ti0.5Cu0.05Dx) is a good candidate for the vacuum arc ion source.