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Title: A hollow cathode ion source for production of primary ions for the BNL electron beam ion source

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4852235· OSTI ID:22253576
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  1. Collider-Accelerator Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973 (United States)

A hollow cathode ion source, based on one developed at Saclay, has been modified significantly and used for several years to produce all primary 1+ ions injected into the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) at Brookhaven. Currents of tens to hundreds of microamperes have been produced for 1+ ions of He, C, O, Ne, Si, Ar, Ti, Fe, Cu, Kr, Xe, Ta, Au, and U. The source is very simple, relying on a glow discharge using a noble gas, between anode and a solid cathode containing the desired species. Ions of both the working gas and ionized sputtered cathode material are extracted, and then the desired species is selected using an ExB filter before being transported into the EBIS trap for charge breeding. The source operates pulsed with long life and excellent stability for most species. Reliable ignition of the discharge at low gas pressure is facilitated by the use of capacitive coupling from a simple toy plasma globe. The source design, and operating experience for the various species, is presented.

OSTI ID:
22253576
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 85, Issue 2; Conference: ICIS 2011: 14. international conference on ion sources, Giardini-Naxos, Sicily (Italy), 12-16 Sep 2011; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English