Microwave-driven multipurpose ion source

Abstract

A microwave-driven ion source being developed at TRIUMF is designed to produce stable, reliable, and gas-efficient negative and positive ion beams for cyclotrons and other accelerators. The source has been tested for H− and achieved 2.1 mA at 0.25 π mm mrad normalized emittance for 500 W of input power at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The source was operated over one month without interruption for a H− beam stability test and demonstrated 2.5% stability over the period. For positive beam extraction H+, He+, N+, and Ar+ species have been studied. A 2 mA N+ beam was obtained at 0.3 π mm mrad normalized emittance for 1 kW of input power. A beam density as high as 7 mA/cm2 with 45% gas efficiency has been achieved for the Ar+ beam. In this paper the source parameters and characteristics are discussed.