Study of RF Stray Currents in ITER Neutral Beam Test Facilities

The operation of SPIDER (Source for the Production of Ions of Deuterium Extracted from Radio-frequency plasma), full-scale prototype of ITER NBI (Neutral Beam Injector) radio-frequency ion source, pointed out deleterious effects caused by stray Radio-Frequency (RF) currents flowing in the electrical equipment not included in the RF power system. MITICA (Megavolt ITER Injector and Concept Advancement), the full-scale prototype of ITER NBI, is characterized by a similar design in terms of layout of the power supplies and connections to the beam source; thus, it is expected to be subject to the RF stray currents problem. SPIDER RF system is composed of four RF generators, four coaxial lines and four RF loads. Each RF generator is rated for operation at 200 kW in the frequency range 0.9 ÷ 1.1 MHz. The power is delivered to the four loads via as many RF coaxial lines, housed inside a multiconductor transmission line. Each load consists of a capacitive matching network and two plasma drivers in series. Due to the presence of stray connections at the generator and beam-source side (e.g., parasitic capacitances), unwanted RF currents can flow through alternative paths and negatively affect the components not intended for transmission of RF power, the output stages of power supplies and several diagnostics installed in the High-Voltage Deck (HVD) and at the beam source. This paper presents the development of a circuital model used to estimate the RF stray currents in SPIDER electrical system; the understanding of this phenomenon and the development of a model with predictive capabilities is fundamental for the assessment of the performance of both SPIDER and MITICA and, in general, of alternative RF system layouts with respect to the stray currents issue.

Calculation of a non-reflective connection in a coaxial line

The calculation of the non-reflective connection in the coaxial line is performed by the integral equation method. The connection of coaxial lines with a significant difference in geometric dimensions is considered. A system of equations is obtained that allows calculating the reflection coefficient of the T-wave from such an inhomogeneity. This technique makes it possible to calculate a multistage coaxial waveguide in order to minimize the reflection coefficient from inhomogeneities.

Microwave Bragg structures in a half-open coaxial line

Bragg microwave structures in a coaxial line have found application as converting elements in devices for dielectric control of liquid and bulk medias. A feature of the measuring conversion of the complex dielectric constant in coaxial structures is the introduction of the substance under study into the inner space of the line. The latter circumstance imposes certain restrictions on the design of the external conductor for express control. In this regard, the consideration of half-open coaxial lines based on an external conductor in the form of longitudinal conducting rods is an urgent problem. The article proposes a method for calculating the wave impedance of a half-open coaxial line using a numerical calculation of electromagnetic fields. Based on the results of modeling Bragg microwave structures in a half-open coaxial line, recommendations are made for the construction of conversion elements based on them.

Разработка джозефсоновского параметрического усилителя бегущей волны нa основе алюминиевых СИС-переходов

We designed, fabricated, and tested several prototypes of a Josephson Travelling Wave Parametric Amplifier (JTWPA) with aluminum SIS junctions integrated in series array of dc SQUIDs in the central line of coplanar waveguide. Three types of fabrication recipes were tested: two with shadow evaporation and one with magnetron sputtering and direct e-beam lithography. IV curves of SQUIDs were measured at bath temperature of 0.3 K. We developed a cryogenic setup for meas-urements of spectral characteristics of JTWPA comprising cold HEMT amplifier with circulator, cold attenuators and filters in signal and pump coaxial lines. Resonant characteristic of coplanar quarter-wave resonator with directional coupler intended for short JTWPA was measured.

Dispersion Analysis of Periodically Loaded Transmission Lines with Twist Symmetry Using the Mode-Matching Technique

A mode-matching formulation is presented and used to analyze the dispersion properties of twist-symmetric transmission lines. The structures are coaxial lines periodically loaded with infinitely thin screens, which are rotated with respect to each other to possess twist symmetry. The results obtained using the proposed formulation are in good agreement with those of commercial simulators. Furthermore, using the presented mode-matching formulation, it is demonstrated that the propagation characteristics in the twist-symmetric structures are linked to the scattering and coupling of the higher order modes. The physical insight offered by this analysis is valuable for the design of various electromagnetic devices, such as filters, antennas, and phase-shifters.