Development of an H− ion source based on the electron cyclotron resonance plasma generator at CEA/Saclay

Abstract

Electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma generators have demonstrated their efficiency, reproducibility, and long lifetime for the production of light positive ions like protons or deuterons. These sources generally work in cw mode. A 2.45 GHz ECR test stand based on a pure volume H− ion production is currently under development. This negative ion source is working in pulsed mode, 1 ms at 10 Hz. The first H− ions have been observed at the beginning of 2002 with a poor efficiency. Only a few μA were produced. To avoid negative ions destruction by a nonabsorbed microwave close to the extraction aperture, a stainless steel grid was installed in the rectangular plasma chamber. As a result, the chamber is now effectively separated into two zones: the ECR plasma generator and the H− production zone. By plotting the extracted current versus the production zone length, the H− ion intensity reached more than 100 μA with the grid located 25 mm from the aperture. A voltage difference on the order of 10 V can be applied between the two parts of the plasma chamber in order to modify the electron energy entering the production zone.