BEAM-BEAM SPACE-CHARGE EFFECTS IN THE HIDIF TARGET CHAMBER

In a heavy ion fusion driver scenario the high space charge requiremen ts imposed by the fusion target can be reduced by using a set of multi ple beams which are focused on the target (matrix focusing). Due to th e high beam current, the propagation in the reactor chamber is influen ced by space charge which also has an effect on beam-beam interaction. These space charge effects may increase the beam spot size at the tar get, with consequent increase of losses in the beam-target coupling. B eam-beam interaction depends on the overall geometry and can require c harge neutralization in the target chamber if it is not negligible. Ou r study shows that within the HIDIF scenario no charge neutralization is needed in the target chamber, at least not for compensation of beam -beam deflection. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.