First Results of the Superconducting ECR Ion Source Venus with 28 GHz

Abstract

VENUS (Versatile ECR ion source for NUclear Science) is a next generation superconducting ECR ion source, designed to produce high current, high charge state ions for the 88‐Inch Cyclotron at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. VENUS also serves as the prototype ion source for the RIA (Rare Isotope Accelerator) front end. The magnetic confinement configuration consists of three superconducting axial coils and six superconducting radial coils in a sextupole configuration. The nominal design fields of the axial magnets are 4T at injection and 3T at extraction; the nominal radial design field strength at the plasma chamber wall is 2T, making VENUS the world most powerful ECR plasma confinement structure. From the beginning, VENUS has been designed for optimum operation at 28 GHz with high power (10 kW).In 2003 the VENUS ECR ion source was commissioned at 18 GHz, while preparations for 28 GHz operation were being conducted. During this commissioning phase with 18 GHz, tests with various gases and metal...