A newly constructed Linear Experimental Advanced Device LEAD

Abstract

The Linear Experimental Advanced Device (LEAD) has been constructed for comprehensive studies on plasma turbulence, plasma-material interaction and new techniques for tokamaks at Southwestern Institute of Physics (SWIP). The vacuum vessel of this linear device is 3055 mm long. It consists of three parts, i.e. the source chamber, the linear magnetized confinement chamber and the plasma-material interaction (PMI) chamber. Kinds of plasma sources, including radio-frequency (RF) sources and a hot cathode source, have been developed to produce steady-state plasma. Wave-mode helicon plasmas can be excited by a large-size four-ring-antenna RF source when the input power is higher than 180 W. The typical electron density is higher than 1019/m3. Transfer from distinct narrowband drift waves to broadband turbulence is observed by means of adjusting the axial magnetic field, which makes LEAD a suitable device to investigate plasma turbulence. Auxiliary heating systems, including a 2.45 GHz Electron Cyclotron Resonance and an ion heating source, and a 1.5 MV ion accelerator are to be installed on LEAD. It promises a particle flow of over 1023/m2s and a heat load of several MW/m2, which makes LEAD a suitable platform for not only fundamental plasma physics but also PMI research.