Recent developments on ECR sources at LBL
After a number of refinements, the stability and ease of tuning of the LBL AECR ion source are greatly improved. Several nuclear science experiments have now used cyclotron ion beams injected by the AECR ion source and have taken advantage of its good short and long term-stability and high performance. Refinements include installation of a dc filament power supply for the electron gun, improved gas flow control.and temperature stabilization of parts of the microwave transmission network. Measurements of the mean plasma potential and plasma potential difference were made on the AECR and the LBL ECR sources. The absolute. mean potentials of plasmas of oxygen, argon, and argon mixed with oxygen in the AECR have been determined. These plasma potentials are positive with respect to the plasma wall and are on the order of a few tens of volts for microwave power up to 600 W and normal operating gas flow. Electrons injected by an electron gun into the AECR plasma reduce the plasma potentials. Beam energy spreads of oxygen, argon and argon mixed with oxygen have also been measured. Measurement of the plasma potential difference between the first and the second stage of the LBL ECR ion source shows that the plasma potential in the first stage is higher than the second stage. Such plasma potential differences range from about 10 to 200 volts depending on the microwave power and density of neutral atoms. With these potential differences, typically of 10 to 40 V at the LBL ECR running conditions, most of the 1+ ions produced by the first stage are probably not be confined by the second state plasma. Thus it appears that the main function of a microwave-driven first stage is to provide electrons to the second stage plasma, as is done with an electron gun in the AECR source.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 10170256
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-34187; CONF-9305239-1; ON: DE93016969; TRN: 93:016655
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 11. international workshop on electron resonance ion sources,Groningen (Netherlands),5-8 May 1993; Other Information: PBD: 5 May 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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