Research Projects

The project is directly linked with India’s endeavour to develop various fusion technologies. A high current negative hydrogen ion (H- ion) source is one of those technologies. The R&D activities on H- ion sources are being carried out to develop an auxiliary heating system (Neutral Beam Injector, NBI system ) to heat the fusion plasma in a fusion reactor. To understand the plasma dynamics on a fusion-grade negative hydrogen ion source, ROBIN (Rf Operated Beam source for negative ion in INdia), an advanced 3D simulation work is proposed in this project proposal to study the effect of various configurations of the plasma confinement magnets on plasma uniformity, flow, and stability. The ROBIN is a single RF driver-based ion source that has been operated in the Institute for Plasma Research for a long time. The ROBIN experimental test bed is shown in Fig.1, and the schematic cross-sectional view of the ion source isshown in Fig. 2. The ROBIN is 1/8th the size of the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) ion source. IPR is engaged to develop an NBI system for ITER to measure the helium (He) ash content in deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion plasma inside the ITER machine. The research on the ROBIN ion source directly helps ITER DNB activities.