Electron Beam Ion Source Charge Breeder Research Articles

Status of the High-Current Electron-Beam Ion Source Charge Breeder for the Facility for Rare-Isotope Beams

The Reaccelerator (ReA) of the Facility for Rare-Isotope Beams (FRIB) employs an Electron-Beam Ion Trap (EBIT) as a charge breeder to reaccelerate rare-isotope beams up to 12 MeV/u. The ReA EBIT produces an electron current of 300 – 600 mA. The maximum trap capacity of the ReA EBIT is 1010 elementary charges. FRIB production rates are expected to exceed 1010 particles/s in some cases in the future. There is also a user demand for reaccelerated stable-isotope beams of more than 1010 pps. To handle these rates and provide redundancy, a High Current Electron-Beam Ion Source (HCEBIS) has been built and is now being commissioned. An electron-beam current of 2 A with a 50 % duty cycle has been transported through a 4-T field. An upcoming upgrade to increase the electron-beam current up to 4 A will allow for a maximum trap capacity of 2.4×1011 elementary charges. We present the status of the HCEBIS, including the results of the electron-beam commissioning and systematic studies.

Recent progress of ISOL facility at RAON

The RAON (Rare Isotope Accelerator complex for ON-line experiments) is currently in the stage of commissioning under the Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP) launched in 2011. RAON will utilize an advanced rare isotope beams produced with a high power target by the Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) facility, aiming to deliver high purity and intense, neutron-rich rare isotope beams to the post-accelerator and experimental facilities. The RAON ISOL facility consists of a target/ion source module surrounded by movable shielding blocks in a bunker, remote handling facilities for the target operation, a pre-mass separator, a RFQ cooler buncher, an EBIS charge breeder, and an A/q separator. The installation and alignment of the ISOL facility were completed in June 2021. The target/ion source module allows us to bombard a thick target with a 70 MeV proton beam of RAON, producing a variety of rare isotope beams. Rare isotope beams extracted from the target/ion source can be transported to a pre-mass separator at energies of up to 60 keV, and will be cooled in a RFQ-CB. Cooled ion beams can be sent to two different experimental facilities, such as a Mass Measurement System and a Collinear Laser Spectroscopy in ISOL experimental hall. Alternatively, for post-acceleration of ion beams, the singly charged ion beam of interest can be bunched to 108 ions in RFQ-CB and then delivered to the EBIS charge breeder through the EBIS branch system. The preparation of multi charged ion beams for the post-acceleration using the superconducting LINAC of SCL3 will be carried out through the EBIS charge breeder and A/q separator to match the energy of 10 keV/u with A/q < 6 with the requirement of RAON Injector.The first commissioning experiment of the ISOL system started in March 2021 using the 133Cs and 120Sn stable beams produced from the target container combined with the surface ion source and laser Ion source. The stable beam experiments have demonstrated the overall functioning of the RAON ISOL system, and we are planning to carry out the first RI beam test using the SiC target with 70 MeV proton of cyclotron in the coming months.

Enhancement of charge breeding efficiency for rare isotope beam with the control of magnetic field profile and electron beam energy in EBIS

The magnetic field in the ion trap of electron beam ion source (EBIS) determines the current density of electron beam and thus the depth of trap potential, which affects the charge breeding efficiency to desired charge state. An EBIS charge breeder has been constructed to be used for the Rare Isotope Science Project in Korea. A 6 T superconducting solenoid is used for the trap, and uniform magnetic field is extended with correction coils at the ends. The effect of field uniformity on the electron current density is evaluated using TRAK, and it is shown sizable improvement in the charge breeding efficiency for rare isotope beams can be obtained by elaborate magnetic design. Furthermore, the electron beam energy affects the ionization efficiency. The electron energy is often reduced in the trap for optimal matching with charge striping cross section. However, virtual cathode formation can appear in the process of energy reduction. Maximum beam currents limited by electron energy are studied analytically and by TRAK simulation in the view of improving the charge breeding efficiency.

Charge breeding of radioactive isotopes at the CARIBU facility with an electron beam ion source.

An Electron Beam Ion Source Charge Breeder (EBIS-CB) has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory as part of the californium rare ion breeder upgrade. For the past year, the EBIS-CB has been undergoing commissioning as part of the ATLAS accelerator complex. It has delivered both stable and radioactive beams with A/Q < 6, breeding times <30 ms, low background contamination, and charge breeding efficiencies >18% into a single charge state. The operation of this device, challenges during the commissioning phase, and future improvements will be discussed.

Design of an EBIS charge breeder system for rare-isotope beams

Rare-isotope beams will be produced by using the isotope separation on-line (ISOL) system at the Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP). A proton cyclotron is the driver accelerator for ISOL targets, and uranium carbide (UCx) will be a major target material. An isotope beam of interest extracted from the target will be ionized and selected by using a mass separator. The beam emittance will then be reduced by using a radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) cooler before the beam is injected into the electron-beam ion-source (EBIS) charge breeder (CB). The maximum electron beam current of the EBIS is 3 A from a cathode made of IrCe in an applied magnetic field of 0.2 T. The size of the electron beam is compressed by magnetic fields of up to 6 T caused in the charge-breeding region by a superconducting solenoid. The design of EBIS-CB was performed by using mechanics as well as beam optics. A test stand for the electron gun and its collector, which can take an electron-beam power of 20 kW, are under construction. The gun assembly was first tested by using a high-voltage pulse so as to measure its perveance. The design of the EBIS, along with its test stand, is described.

On-line charge breeding using ECRIS and EBIS

The efficient and rapid production of a high-quality, pure beam of highly charged ions is at the heart of any radioactive ion beam facility. Whether an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source or an electron beam ion source (EBIS) is used to produce these highly charged ions, their operating characteristics will set the boundaries on the range of experiments which can be performed. In addition, time structure and duty cycle have to be considered when defining the operating parameters of the accelerator system as a whole. At Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), an ECR charge breeder was developed as part of the Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) program. The charge breeding efficiency and high charge state production of the source is at the forefront of ECR charge breeders, but its overall performance as part of the accelerator system is limited by pervasive background and relatively long breeding times. As such, an EBIS charge breeder has been developed and is running in an off-line configuration. It has already demonstrated good breeding efficiencies, shorter residence times, and reduced background and is scheduled to replace the ECR charge breeder in late 2015. The resultant change in duty cycle and time structure necessitates changes to the overall operation of the facility. The experiences with these breeders, as well as from several other facilities which already utilize an ECR or EBIS for charge breeding, help to define the operational characteristics of each technology – their strengths, their weaknesses, and the possible paths to improvement.

Off-line commissioning of EBIS and plans for its integration into ATLAS and CARIBU.

An Electron Beam Ion Source Charge Breeder (EBIS-CB) has been developed at Argonne to breed radioactive beams from the CAlifornium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) facility at Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS). The EBIS-CB will replace the existing ECR charge breeder to increase the intensity and significantly improve the purity of reaccelerated radioactive ion beams. The CARIBU EBIS-CB has been successfully commissioned offline with an external singly charged cesium ion source. The performance of the EBIS fully meets the specifications to breed rare isotope beams delivered from CARIBU. The EBIS is being relocated and integrated into ATLAS and CARIBU. A long electrostatic beam transport system including two 180° bends in the vertical plane has been designed. The commissioning of the EBIS and the beam transport system in their permanent location will start at the end of this year.

Simulation and design of an electron beam ion source charge breeder for the californium rare isotope breeder upgrade

An electron beam ion source (EBIS) will be constructed and used to charge breed ions from the californium rare isotope breeder upgrade (CARIBU) for postacceleration into the Argonne tandem linear accelerator system (ATLAS). Simulations of the EBIS charge breeder performance and the related ion transport systems are reported. Propagation of the electron beam through the EBIS was verified, and the anticipated incident power density within the electron collector was identified. The full normalized acceptance of the charge breeder with a 2 A electron beam, $0.024\ensuremath{\pi}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{mm}\text{ }\mathrm{mrad}$ for nominal operating parameters, was determined by simulating ion injection into the EBIS. The optics of the ion transport lines were carefully optimized to achieve well-matched ion injection, to minimize emittance growth of the injected and extracted ion beams, and to enable adequate testing of the charge bred ions prior to installation in ATLAS.

Charge breeding results and future prospects with electron cyclotron resonance ion source and electron beam ion source (invited)

The Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) of the Argonne National Laboratory ATLAS facility will provide low-energy and reaccelerated neutron-rich radioactive beams for the nuclear physics program. A 70 mCi (252)Cf source produces fission fragments which are thermalized and collected by a helium gas catcher into a low-energy particle beam with a charge of 1+ or 2+. An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source functions as a charge breeder in order to raise the ion charge sufficiently for acceleration in the ATLAS linac. The final CARIBU configuration will utilize a 1 Ci (252)Cf source to produce radioactive beams with intensities up to 10(6) ions∕s for use in the ATLAS facility. The ECR charge breeder has been tested with stable beam injection and has achieved charge breeding efficiencies of 3.6% for (23)Na(8+), 15.6% for (84)Kr(17+), and 13.7% for (85)Rb(19+) with typical breeding times of 10 ms∕charge state. For the first radioactive beams, a charge breeding efficiency of 11.7% has been achieved for (143)Cs(27+) and 14.7% for (143)Ba(27+). The project has been commissioned with a radioactive beam of (143)Ba(27+) accelerated to 6.1 MeV∕u. In order to take advantage of its lower residual contamination, an EBIS charge breeder will replace the ECR charge breeder in the next two years. The advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques are compared taking into account the requirements of the next generation radioactive beam facilities.

EBIS charge breeder for radioactive ion beams at ATLAS

The construction of the Californium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) for the Argonne National Laboratory ATLAS facility is completed and its commissioning is being performed. In its full capacity, the CARIBU facility will use fission fragments from a 1 Curie (Ci) 252Cf source. The ions will be thermalized and collected into a low-energy ion beam by a helium gas catcher, mass analyzed by an isobar separator, and charge bred to higher charge states for acceleration in ATLAS. To reach energies E/A 10 MeV/u, one should inject ions with charge-to-mass ratio (q/A) ⩾ 1/7 into the ATLAS linac. In the first stage, the existing Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source will be used as a charge breeder. The maximum intensity of radioactive ion beams at the output of the gas catcher will not exceed 107 ions per second. A charge breeder based on an Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) has significant advantages over the ECR option for ion beam intensities up to about 109 ions per second, providing 3-4 times higher efficiency and significantly better purity of highly charged radioactive ion beams for further acceleration. The proposed EBIS project for CARIBU will heavily utilize state-of-the-art EBIS technology recently developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory. This will allow us to reduce both the project cost and timescale, simultaneously insuring reliable technical realization of the cutting-edge technology. Several parameters of the CARIBU EBIS charge breeder (EBIS-CB) will be relaxed with respect to the BNL EBIS in favor of higher reliability and lower cost. Technical performance of the CARIBU charge breeder will not suffer from such a relaxation and will provide high efficiency for a whole range of radioactive ion beams. The goal of this paper is to present the initial design of the EBIS charge breeder for radioactive ion beams at ATLAS.

Charge breeding of isotope on-line-created radioactive ions using an electron cyclotron resonance ion trap

In the coming years huge ion-beam projects are foreseen. They deal with specific isotope on-line (ISOL) beams such as ISOL-created radioactive ions. The beam intensities are exceptionally high (&amp;gt;1012ions∕s), the radioactive lifetimes are short (⩽1s), and the ion energy is very high (⩾150GeV∕u). In general in order to minimize the size of the accelerator one needs highly charged ISOL ions and therefore charge breeders are a must. In contrast with the CERN system, utilizing a Penning trap and an electron-beam ion source charge breeder (where the maximum ion beam cannot exceed 106ions∕s) the Grenoble group launched in 1995 an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) system capable of storing 1012ions∕s and delivering highly charged ISOL ions. In this article we show that this storage is possible for low-ion-energy ISOL ions following classical slowing down theory. In this case the injected ISOL ions are slowed down by ion-ion collisions which yield ion storage inside the ECR plasma, but also charge breeding by the energetic ECR electrons bombarding the slowed down ions.