Experimental results from the Brookhaven National Laboratory test electron beam ion source

Abstract

At Brookhaven National Laboratory, an Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) is operational and has produced charge states such as N7+, Ar16+, and Xe26+ using neutral gas injection. Ions such as Na7+ and Tl41+ have been produced using external ion injection. The BNL EBIS effort is directed at reaching intensities of interest to RHIC, approximately 3×109 particles/pulse which will require EBIS electron beams on the order of 10 A. Pulsed electron beams up to 1.14 A have been produced using a 3 mm LaB6 cathode. Ion yields corresponding to 50% of the maximum trap capacity for electron beams up to 0.5 A have been obtained. The goal for the TestEBIS is to produce a uranium ion charge state distribution peaked at U45+ with 50% of the trap capacity for a 1 A electron beam.