The performance of a low energy neutral source formed by negatively biased plates inserted in the edge plasma of the central cell of the Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U) is described. This technique promises to be capable of fueling the high density thermal barrier plasmas. We have found that annular ring electrodes mounted on the sides of the central cell gas box and inclined 45/sup 0/ to the plasma axis can produce about 80 A of inward-directed D/sup 0/ with an average energy E/sub 0/ approx. = 250 eV (where the plate bias = -400 V). This example was calculated for a peak plasma density n/sub e/(0) = 10/sup 13/ cm/sup -3/ and an edge plasma density n/sub L/ = 10/sup 12/ cm/sup -3/ at the limiter edge defined by the biased plates. The energetic neutrals, attenuated by about an e-fold in reaching the plasma center, are thus much more efficient in fueling the core plasma than Frank-Condon atoms, which are attenuated by greater than a factor of 100. In addition, because their energy is greater than Frank-Condon atoms their initial collisional trapping rate in the thermal barrier is reduced by a factor of approximately (100)/sup 3/2/ = 1000.

An overview is given of the following tasks related to laser isotope separation: Triton beam delivery optics, dye chain relay optics, CVL beam delivery, and optical delay line.