Observation of 3d metal ion charge state distributions in the Dresden EBIT

Abstract

Ion charge states of 3d metal ions in the electron beam of the Dresden electron beam ion trap (EBIT), a room-temperature EBIT, are determined by x-ray spectroscopy. It is shown that ions of highest charge states as bare nuclei and hydrogen- and helium-like ions can be produced with ion densities of about 105 cm−3 up to 108 cm−3 in the trap. The Dresden EBIT operates at a typical working gas pressure region of 10−8 mbar down to 10−10 mbar. Thus the influence of the realized working gas pressure on the derived ion charge state distribution is investigated by model calculations.