Design and thermal simulations towards a high intensity radioactive ion source for ISOL@MYRRHA

Abstract

MYRRHA will be the world’s first large-scale Accelerator Driven System project at power levels scalable to industrial systems. ISOL@MYRRHA will produce Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs) using the Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) technique, with increased isotope production by high intensity primary beams over a long period while maintaining a high-quality RIB. Higher atom flux produced prevalently affects the ISOL ion source. A surface ion source is chosen as a first source because of its reliability and simple design. To understand the hot cavity’s behaviour, finite element thermal-electric simulations were performed. To start, a heating system study with experimental results from the SPES project was reproduced. This concept was then modified by: electrically insulating the source from its support, adding a feedthrough, transforming a passive thermal screen into an active part. With this heating system upgrade, the ion source temperature profile can be adjusted, especially at its exit part where high temperature is expected to play a crucial role in ion production and extraction.