LIF standoff research

Present LIF target experiments on PBFA II use a barrel diode in which the total transport length from the anode to the target is ≤ 15 cm. Future LIF development includes high yield applications (LMF) and energy production (ETF and LIBRA power plants) that require standoff - the generation of extracted ion beams and transport of these beams over distances of several meters. Standoff research includes the development of high efficiency extraction diodes (single stage and two-stage), improvements in beam quality (divergence, purity, uniformity, etc.), and the efficient transport and focusing of these beams over distances of several meters to a fusion target. Progress in all of these areas is discussed, as well as a strategy to reduce the divergence from the present 17 mrad for 5 MeV protons on SABRE to the required mrad for 35 MeV Li ions for LMF. The status of experiments is summarized, and future directions are indicated