P. Lehérissier

Production of metallic ions with an ECRIS at GANIL

A summary of recent and future developments in metallic ion production with an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) at GANIL is presented. Multicharged metallic ions are routinely produced with an ECRIS (ECR4 14 GHz) and accelerated for nuclear and atomic physics experiments. We present the various methods which have been used to generate these multicharged metallic ions. The accelerator requires stable beams for periods of weeks. The results obtained recently by direct ion plasma sputtering of Ni, Nb, and U samples are remarkable and stable beams from these metals have been delivered continuously for weeks. A pulsed EXCIMER laser, injecting a beam axially through the extraction hole of the ECRIS, has been tested for ablation on a rotating uranium target for uranium beam production. The metal ions from volatile compounds technique using volatile compounds has been also tested with ferrocene [Fe(C5H5)2] to produce multicharged Fe ions. We plan to install a third high voltage platform using an EC...

Minimono: An ultracompact permanent magnet ion source for singly charged ions

Minimono is a 2.45 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source for singly charged ions which uses only permanent magnets. Measurements of ionization efficiencies, maximum currents extracted, and emittances for H+, 3,4He+, N+, Ne+, Ar+, Kr+, S+, and Si+ were carried out. In the case of buckminster fullerenes, C60+, C602+, and C603+ ions were extracted. The results obtained, the general mechanical simplicity of this ion source, and its low cost make this source attractive for the production of stable and radioactive ions.

High intensity metallic ion beams from an ECR ion source at GANIL

In recent years, progress concerning the production of high intensity of metallic ion beams (58Ni, 48Ca, 76Ge) at GANIL have been performed. The metallic ion from volatile compound method has been successfully used to produce a high intensity nickel beam with the ECR4 ion source: 20 e μA of 58Ni11+ at 24 kV extraction voltage. This beam has been maintained for 8 days and accelerated up to 74.5 MeV/u by our cyclotrons with a mean intensity of 0.13 pμA on target. This high intensity, required for experiment, led to the discovery of the doubly magic 48Ni isotope. The oven method has been first tested with natural metallic calcium on the ECR4 ion source, then used to produce a high power beam (740 W on target, i.e., 0.13 pμA accelerated up to 60 meV/u) of 48Ca still keeping a low consumption (0.09 mg/h). A germanium beam is now under development, using the oven method with germanium oxide. The ionization efficiencies have been measured and compared.

Improvements on metallic ion beams at GANIL with the large-capacity oven

In the last two years the development of the large-capacity oven was continued. First tests on-line with calcium, lead, tin and magnesium beams were achieved. We successfully produced 30μA of Ca9+, 13μA of Pb23+, 8μA of Sn21+, and 50μA of Mg7+. Some deformation of the filament appeared when working at high temperature. Several configurations of the filament and the use of an alternate power supply have been tested to solve this problem. The beam’s intensities and the ionization efficiencies were improved in comparison with the standard microoven performances. The results of magnesium beam, 110μA of Mg5+ obtained with the “MIVOC” method are compared with those using the oven technique.

Visible light spectrometry measurements for studying an ECRIS plasma and especially applied to the MONO1001 ion source

The cylindrical geometry of the magnetic confinement of the MONO1001 electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source made in GANIL [P. Jardin et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 73, 789 (2002)] allows us to measure radial characteristics of the working ECR plasma with helium gas. The physical and the geometrical characteristics of the resonance surface inside the working ECR source have been quantified with the help of a visible light spectrometer. Hence, we have deduced a shape of the electron cyclotron resonance ion sources resonance surface which corresponds closely to our magnetic calculations.

Status report on ECR ion source operation at GANIL

Two electron cyclotron resonance ion sources, ECR 4 and ECR 4 M, provide high charge state beams to the compact cyclotrons, C01 and C02, which are alternative injectors for the GANIL cyclotrons CSS1 and CSS2. When an injector runs for a long period, the off-line source can be used for beam developments or, together with the off-line injector, deliver a beam to a new beam line, called IRRSUD, for atomic physics experiments. Various ions are requested for beam time for periods of 8 to 11 weeks. Although the majority of the required beams comes from gaseous elements, work on the production of beams of metallic ions is always a main activity. New ovens are being developed to improve the capacity and the performances of the standard micro-oven. The latest results with 238U beam, using sputtering method and 76Ge beam using recycling method, are reported here.

High intensity heavy ion beams for exotic nuclei production at GANIL

The GANIL heavy ion accelerator can be used as a driver for producing exotic beams either by fragmentation of the projectile, or by the ISOL method through the SPIRAL complex. The accelerator was first equipped with several devices for protection against thermal effects and activation. Then tests were carried out to increase the primary beam intensities, especially for projectiles ranging from C to Ar. The goal of 2×1013 pps was obtained with a 75 MeV/n carbon beam extracted from SSC2 for several hours. Losses at extraction limited the Ar intensity to 5×1012 pps, while a 1×1013 pps was aimed at. For some other ion species, substantial increases were obtained, although their use are somewhat limited by weaknesses in the concrete shielding. Detailed results of these tests are discussed. Possible cures to overcome limitations are presented, along with results of simulations concerning the effect of longitudinal space charge forces.

Development of metallic ions in the ECR sources

The production of metallic ions compared to gaseous ones is generally obtained with smaller charge states, less current, and a not so good long‐term stability. This paper presents the thinking to obtain more comparable results in the two situations and the corresponding measurements; studies undertaken Ca, Zn, Mg, Ni, Ag, Ta, and Pb on the 10 GHz/CAPRICE.

Multigan®: first experimental results.

A new design of a multicharged ion source based on the MONO1000 ECRIS has been presented at the last ECR ion source (ECRIS) Workshop 2010. [L. Maunoury et al., in Proceedings of the XIXth International Workshop on ECR Ion Sources, Grenoble, France, 23-26 August 2010] This source has not only two opening at both ends but also a large space in the middle of the source enabling a direct contact with the ECR plasma. The source has been assembled mechanically and put on a test bench at the Pantechnik company. The primary tests have shown that the plasma ignition occurred at low pressure (10(-6) mbar) and low RF power (10 W). The first experimental results ( = 1.30 for Ar and 1.85 for Xe) demonstrated the potential of this ion source in production of multicharged ion beams.

Latest results obtained at GANIL with new target-source systems dedicated to radioactive ion production

Two new target-source systems have been realized and used to produce radioactive elements with primary beams of 78Kr (68.5 A MeV) and 36Ar (95 A MeV). The production yields of 73,72Kr, 35,33,32Ar, 30,29P, 31,30S, 34,33,32Cl and of some other condensable elements such as 73,72Br and 73,71Se are presented. The results of the improvements between the two versions of the production system are discussed.