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Title: Use of a Hall accelerator in the production of negative hydrogen ions in cesium vapor

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.325294· OSTI ID:6839760

Atomic hydrogen particles from a Hall accelerator were utilized in low-energy (<2 keV) negative-hydrogen-ion-production experiments in cesium vapor. Cell thicknesses in the range 8 x 10/sup 1/1 to 6 x 10/sup 1/5 Cs atoms/cm/sup 2/ were studied for H/sup -/ current densities on the order of 1 mA/cm/sup 2/. Anomalously, large H/sup -/ fractions of up to 30--60% were observed at intermediate cell thicknesses when protons were not removed from the dominantly H/sup 0/ incident beam. These observations indicate either the presence of excitation of the H/sup 0/ beam or the existence of two space-charge phenomena: a focusing effect inside of the cesium cell, due to a buildup of positive space charge in the beam line, and a divergence effect as the H/sup -/ beam emerges from the cesium cell due to a lack of space-charge neutralization.

Research Organization:
Nuclear Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
OSTI ID:
6839760
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 49:6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English