Design of an in-vacuum manipulator for nuclear diagnostics development at the MIT linear electrostatic ion...

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Fusion Technology
• Particle Accelerator Engineering

Background:

• Proton spectrometers using CR-39 filters are crucial for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments.
• Accurate calibration is essential to account for filter thickness variations in ICF data analysis.
• Existing calibration processes can be resource-intensive and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an ultrahigh vacuum compatible manipulator, the Diagnostic Manipulating Element (DiME).
• To significantly reduce the resources and time required for calibrating proton spectrometers.
• To facilitate the adoption of efficient calibration methods in nuclear fusion research facilities.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Diagnostic Manipulating Element (DiME) system.
• Integration of the DiME with the MIT Linear Electrostatic Ion Accelerator (LEIA) facility.
• Modular design principles applied for ease of implementation.

Main Results:

• The DiME system was successfully developed and implemented.
• The calibration process time for proton spectrometers was reduced by 50%.
• The system supports rapid prototyping, accelerating experimental readiness.

Conclusions:

• The DiME system offers a significant improvement in spectrometer calibration efficiency.
• Its modular design promotes wider adoption in fusion energy development.
• This advancement aids in more accurate data analysis for ICF experiments.