FEBIAD ionization development via a web-app for multidimensional characterization

Abstract

The ISAC-FEBIAD is an electron impact ion source typically used to ionize radioactive molecules or isotopes of elements beyond the reach of either surface or laser ion sources. The FEBIAD’s key tuning parameters are the cathode temperature defining the number of electrons created; the anode voltage establishing the electron energy; and the magnetic field controlling the electron density inside the anode volume. However, these parameters are typically scanned in a small and limited range when optimizing the source. Recent investigations have shown the need to explore the entire range of operational values accessible by the power supplies, not only due to the intrinsic variations from source to source but also to operate the source at optimal settings. To address this, a scanning algorithm has been implemented as a web interface thanks to the High-Level-Application (HLA) infrastructure available at TRIUMF. The ion beam intensity during both offline and online commissioning of the web app are presented here as contour plots. The optimal settings found for stable 20Ne are confirmed as the optimal settings for radioactive 18Ne. The main takeaway, however, is that the optimal ion source parameters differ between singly-charged, doubly-charged, and molecular species. This development demonstrate and facilitate the need for element and charge state-specific parameter optimization. Additionally, the results highlight the possibility of parameter optimization to enhance the ratio of the species of interest to co-ionized contamination.