P. Spädtke

Observations of the frequency tuning effect in the 14 GHz CAPRICE ion source

A set of measurements with the CAPRICE ion source at the GSI test bench has been carried out to investigate its behavior in terms of intensity and shape of the extracted beam when the microwaves generating the plasma sweep in a narrow range of frequency (+/-40 MHz) around the klystron center frequency (14.5 GHz). Remarkable variations have been observed depending on the source and the beamline operating parameters, confirming that a frequency dependent electromagnetic distribution is preserved even in the presence of plasma inside the source. Moreover, these observations confirm that the frequency tuning is a powerful method to optimize the electron cyclotron resonance ion source performances. A description of the experimental setup and of the obtained results is given in the following.

Prospects of ion beam extraction and transport simulations (invited)

Beam profile measurements using viewing targets and emittance measurements with pepper pot devices have established new insights about the ion beam extracted from an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). In our measurements we have compared two different ECRISs of CAPRICE type, one source was equipped with a standard 1.0 T hexapole magnet, whereas for the other ion source a stronger hexapole magnet with a flux density of 1.2 T has been installed. The resulting ion beam profile for each individual charge state produced by different focal strengths of an optical element can be used to estimate the emittance, but it also shows the negative influence of the hexapole on the extracted ion beam. A hexapole correction would be desirable to improve further beam transport. A possible correction scheme will be discussed. All experimental observations can be reproduced by computer simulation if a magnetic plasma is assumed. When the Larmor radius for ions becomes small, collisions are negligible for the path of ions within the plasma. Low energy electrons are highly movable along the magnetic field lines and can compensate the ion space charge within the plasma chamber.

Sophisticated computer simulation of ion beam extraction for different types of plasma generators

Various plasma generators are used to generate the necessary particle density for extraction of an ion beam with required performance. For the simulation the distribution of ions and electrons in real space and momentum space has to be taken into account to get a realistic description of ion beam formation. In addition, the charge state distribution influences the quality of the extracted beam by undesired space charge effects if magnetic fields are acting on the ions.

Low‐energy ion beam extraction and transport: Experiment–computer comparison

Ion beam formation at low energy (∼1 keV or so) is more difficult to accomplish than at high energy because of beam blowup by space‐charge forces in the uncompensated region within the extractor, an effect which is yet more pronounced for heavy ions and for high beam current density. For the same reasons, the extracted ion beam is more strongly subject to space charge blowup than higher energy beams if it is not space‐charge neutralized to a high degree. A version of vacuum arc ion source with an extractor that produces low‐energy metal ion beams at relatively high current (∼0.5–10 kV at up to ∼100 mA) using a multi‐aperture, accel–decel extractor configuration has been created. The experimentally observed beam extraction characteristics of this source is compared with those predicted using the axcel−inp code, and the implied downstream beam transport with theoretical expectations. It is concluded that the low‐energy extractor performance is in reasonable agreement with the code, and that good downstream ...

Operation of the CAPRICE electron cyclotron resonance ion source applying frequency tuning and double frequency heating.

The properties of the electromagnetic waves heating the electrons of the ECR ion sources (ECRIS) plasma affect the features of the extracted ion beams such as the emittance, the shape, and the current, in particular for higher charge states. The electron heating methods such as the frequency tuning effect and the double frequency heating are widely used for enhancing the performances of ECRIS or even for the routine operation during the beam production. In order to better investigate these effects the CAPRICE ECRIS has been operated using these techniques. The ion beam properties for highly charged ions have been measured with beam diagnostic tools. The reason of the observed variations of this performance can be related to the different electromagnetic field patterns, which are changing inside the plasma chamber when the frequency is varying.

The role of space charge compensation for ion beam extraction and ion beam transport (invited)a)

Depending on the specific type of ion source, the ion beam is extracted either from an electrode surface or from a plasma. There is always an interface between the (almost) space charge compensated ion source plasma, and the extraction region in which the full space charge is influencing the ion beam itself. After extraction, the ion beam is to be transported towards an accelerating structure in most cases. For lower intensities, this transport can be done without space charge compensation. However, if space charge is not negligible, the positive charge of the ion beam will attract electrons, which will compensate the space charge, at least partially. The final degree of Space Charge Compensation (SCC) will depend on different properties, like the ratio of generation rate of secondary particles and their loss rate, or the fact whether the ion beam is pulsed or continuous. In sections of the beam line, where the ion beam is drifting, a pure electrostatic plasma will develop, whereas in magnetic elements, these space charge compensating electrons become magnetized. The transport section will provide a series of different plasma conditions with different properties. Different measurement tools to investigate the degree of space charge compensation will be described, as well as computational methods for the simulation of ion beams with partial space charge compensation.

Investigations on the structure of the extracted ion beam from an electron cyclotron resonance ion source

Using improved beam diagnostic tools, the structure of an ion beam extracted from an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) becomes visible. Especially viewing targets to display the beam profile and pepper pot devices for emittance measurements turned out to be very useful. On the contrary, diagnostic tools integrating over one space coordinate like wire harps for profile measurements or slit-slit devices, respectively slit-grid devices to measure the emittance might be applicable for beam transport investigations in a quadrupole channel, but are not very meaningful for investigations regarding the given ECRIS symmetry. Here we try to reproduce the experimentally found structure on the ion beam by simulation. For the simulation, a certain model has to be used to reproduce the experimental results. The model is also described in this paper.

Emittance estimation by an ion optical element with variable focusing strength and a viewing target

The emittance of an extracted ion beam can be estimated to first order by a series of three linear independent profile measurements. This estimation is restricted to the evaluation of an upper limit of the emittance value for a homogeneous, nonfilamented beam. The beam is assumed to be round, respectively elliptical, without any structure of the intensity distribution, no space charge has been assumed for the drifting beam, and the optics is assumed to be linear. Instead of using three different drift sections, a linear focusing element with three different focusing strengths can be used. Plotting the beam radius as function of focusing strength, three independent solutions can be used to calculate the Twiss parameters alpha, beta, and gamma and furthermore the emittance epsilon. Here we describe the measurements which have been performed with the SECRAL ion source at Institute of Modern Physics Lanzhou.

Ion beam development for the needs of the JYFL nuclear physics programme.

The increased requirements towards the use of higher ion beam intensities motivated us to initiate the project to improve the overall transmission of the K130 cyclotron facility. With the facility the transport efficiency decreases rapidly as a function of total beam intensity extracted from the JYFL ECR ion sources. According to statistics, the total transmission efficiency is of the order of 10% for low beam intensities (I(total)< or =0.7 mA) and only about 2% for high beam intensities (I(total)>1.5 mA). Requirements towards the use of new metal ion beams for the nuclear physics experiments have also increased. The miniature oven used for the production of metal ion beams at the JYFL is not able to reach the temperature needed for the requested metal ion beams. In order to fulfill these requirements intensive development work has been performed. An inductively and a resistively heated oven has successfully been developed and both are capable of reaching temperatures of about 2000 degrees C. In addition, sputtering technique has been tested. GEANT4 simulations have been started in order to better understand the processes involved with the bremsstrahlung, which gives an extra heat load to cryostat in the case of superconducting ECR ion source. Parallel with this work, a new advanced ECR heating simulation program has been developed. In this article we present the latest results of the above-mentioned projects.

The influence of axial magnetic fields on the extraction of an ion beam from a plasma source

ECR (electron cyclotron resonance) sources are now commonly in use for the production of highly charged ions. For the operation of this type of source a solenoidal magnetic field is necessary. In the present work the influence of this axial field on the extracted ion beam is investigated. The ion optics are mainly determined by the curvature of the plasma boundary. Computer simulations demonstrate the dominant role of space charge.