Multicharged Ions Research Articles

Lebt of the Heavy Ion Linear Accelerator

At the NRC “Kurchatov Institute” (Kurchatov Complex for Theoretical and Experimental Physics), the pulsed linear resonant heavy ion accelerator is being developed. The Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT) channel transports the beam from a laser-plasma source of multi-charged ions with an A/Z ratio from 4 to 8 (up to Bi27+) to the RFQ. This paper shares the results of the beam dynamics simulation of the LEBT, which ensures the separation of the working fraction of the ion beam and its matching with the RFQ.

Enhanced Production of Multicharged Ions by Mixing Low Z Gas and Emittance Measurement on Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source

We have studied to enhance efficiency of producing multicharged ions in an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). The gas mixing method is known as an empirical method for highly efficient production of multicharged ions. This method is to mix low Z gas into the multicharged ions plasma. There are various explanations for the gas mixing effect. One of them is the ion cooling effect. It is necessary to obtain parameters related to the ion temperature in order to experimentally confirm the effect. We measured emittances for ion beams by using a wire probe and a multi-slit. He was mixed as a low Z gas into the operating Ar gas. Charged state distributions of ion beams was measured to confirm the gas mixing effect. We have also measured emittances for the multicharged Ar ion beams and compared root mean square emittances (ε rms) of those for pure Ar and Ar mixed by He. We confirmed that ε rms for Ar mixed by He was lower than that for pure Ar.

Various Parameter Measurements in Single-Frequency Dual-ECR Heating on Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source

We have been researching efficient generation of multi-charged ions on electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). We can introduce microwaves from a coaxial antenna at the upstream side of the magnetic mirror field (Coaxial) and a rod antenna at the downstream side (Rod). Regardless of R-wave cutoff, ECR occurs at two resonance points by Dual-ECR heating which means introducing microwaves from both antennas and we succeeded in generating more multi-charged Ar ions. We measured beam currents and plasma parameters such as electron density and electron temperature and obtained their radial distributions. We found the beam currents of multi-charged Ar ions were highest by Dual-ECR heating.

Initial Experimental Results of Producing Multicharged Ions Efficiently by Lower Hybrid Resonance Heating with Exciting Helicon Waves on Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source

Based on experimental results, we considered the accessibility conditions for wave propagation in the magnetized plasma in an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source (ECRIS), and proposed introducing electromagnetic waves with frequencies lower than those of ECR. We generate the lower hybrid resonance (LHR) in the ECRIS by the electric field of the extra-ordinary mode (X-mode) on the helicon wave which additionally heat the electrons, and then it was conducted to improve the efficiency of multicharged ion generation successfully in over density condition. The electron energy distribution function obtained by the probe measurement shows an increase in the high-energy region in the corresponding LHR region. In this paper, for the first time we describe the initial experimental results on enhanced production of multicharged ions by the LHR of the low-frequency RF electromagnetic waves into the ECRIS.

Ion source developments to supply mono & multi charged ion beams to the new NHa C400 hadrontherapy system.

Normandy Hadrontherapy (NHa) is developing, in collaboration with Ion Beam Applications (IBA), a full hadrontherapy treatment solution based on a new multiparticle cyclotron. 12C6+ and 4He2+ ions will be accelerated up to 400 MeV/u and (H2)+ up to 260 MeV/u. Three different ion sources will be carried out for each accelerated particle: the mono-charged ion source (H2)+ and low charged ion source He2+ are provided by the Polygon Physics (PP) company. The carbon ion source is under development at NHa in collaboration with IBA and PP. The (H2)+ ion source is an industrial Tubular ECR Source (TES) fitted for the needs of the NHa C400 cyclotron (30 µA of (H2)+). The He2+ ion source is a classic 10 GHz ECR type with a new concept because the complete source is set inside a vacuum chamber and it runs under 10−6 mbar of gas residual pressure. The 12C6+ ion source is also an ECR type ion source operating at 14.5 GHz frequency, its design is under progress to produce a beam providing stability and reproducibility levels compatible with clinical use. The article will present the External Injection System of the NHa C400 cyclotron hence it will focus on the experimental results obtained with the (H2)+ ion source and preliminary outputs from the He2+ ECRIS. A presentation of the multicharged ECRIS design dedicated to the 12C6+ production will be done.

Dual Frequency Enhancement of the Supernanogan Multi-Charged Ion Source at TRIUMF ISAC Facility

In 2008, a Supernanogan ECR ion source from PANTECHNIK was introduced in addition to an in-house developed microwave ion source and a surface ion source to complement the TRIUMF Offline Ion Source (OLIS) facility to provide highly charged ions to ISAC experiments. Originally, it employed a 400 W Travelling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA) for RF heating, but less than 50 W was enough to produce all the multi-charged beams required by the experiments. A 50 W solid-state amplifier was added for redundancy purposes, but we found a significant improvement when both were switched on at the same time. When properly optimized for the dual frequency, less than ten times the total power is needed to produce a similar charge state distribution with more current than the single frequency. The beam stability and the ability to extract higher charged ions also improved with the dual frequency enhancement. The simulation studies, operational experience, and results are discussed in this paper.

Initial Experimental Results on Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating Selectively Mixed Low Z Ions to Enhance Production Efficiency of Multicharged Ions on Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source

According to the accessibility conditions of wave propagation in the magnetized plasma of an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source (ECRIS), it is speculated that the essential factor that determines the limitations in the multiply charged ion currents is the left-hand polarization wave cutoff (L-cutoff). It is necessary to overcome this limitation, we proposed the introduction of ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) or lower hybrid resonance (LHR) by lower frequency waves. We conduct heating low-mass ions selectively in enhanced producing multiply charged ion by mixing low-mass element gas, which has been conventionally performed in ECRIS, or relaxation of the potential well based on the existence of resonant electron particles by ECR. This paper will describe the initial experimental results of ICR application by introducing low-frequency RF electromagnetic waves in the ECRIS.

Study of characteristics elementary atomic processes in the neon-like multicharged ions plasma within an energy approach

We present the theoretical foundations of an advanced relativistic approach to computing the main energy, spectral characteristics of radiative-collisional processes in the plasma (in particular, the Debye plasma) of atomic as the example, neon-like) ions with simultaneous, quantitatively consistent consideration of the complex relativistic, interelectron exchange-correlation and plasma environment effects. The approach is based on the combination of a relativistic energy approach (S-matrix Gell-Mann and Low formalism), the relativistic gauge-invariant many-body perturbation theory with optimized Dirac-Fock-Sturm and Debye-Hückel approximations with accounting for the plasma environment effects with possible generalization on the presence of an additional external electromagnetic field. The fundamental point of our approach is the selection of the optimized Dirac-Fock-Sturm zeroth approximation and application of the consistent procedure for constructing a one-quasiparticle representation (basis’s of relativistic wave functions) in compliance with the principle of gauge invariance, in particular, by minimizing a gauge-noninvariant contributions to the radiative widths of the atomic (ionic) levels due to the complex exchange-correlation effects. The electron-ion collision strength and the dioelect5ron capture rate etc are determined within the presented theory.

On Considering the Effects of Ion Dynamics In Modeling the Spectra of Multicharged Ions

On Considering the Effects of Ion Dynamics In Modeling the Spectra of Multicharged Ions

New progress of a 2.45 GHz ECR ion source for carbon positive ion mass spectrometry

Positive ion mass spectrometry (PIMS) is a trace element measurement technique based on positive and negative ion conversion, which is contrary to conventional accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). To precisely measure 14C, interference of molecular isobars (such as 12CH2 and 13CH) need to be suppressed in the ion source by generating multi-charged carbon ions, such as C2+ or C3+. At present, a high-frequency (> 7 GHz) electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source is commonly used to generate C2+ or C3+ ions through CO2 discharge. At Peking University (PKU), we developed a compact permanent magnet 2.45 GHz ECR ion source attempting to produce C2+ ions. In this work, systematical experiments are performed to further improve the performance of the ion source for the application in PIMS. The results show that it can deliver 1.0 emA C2+ ions with an alumina ceramic liner, and its C consumption is about 10∼20 ng/s. Meanwhile, it is also proved that a certain proportion of He and CO2 mixing can improve the production efficiency of C2+ ions, and the consumption of C can be lower. Furthermore, results confirm that this ECR ion source with alumina liner has a lower memory effect, and the influence of original CO2 discharge can be eliminated by Ar plasma cleaning for several minutes. The experimental results show that the 2.45 GHz ECR ion source has the potential to be used in the PIMS system.

ELECTROTRANSPOT CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYANILINE-MODIFIED CATION EXCHANGE MEMBRANES IN SOLUTIONS OF NICKEL AND CHROMIUM SULFATES AND SULFURIC ACID

The electrotranspot and structural characteristics of the MK-40 and MF-4SK sulfocationic membranes modified with polyaniline in an electrodialysis apparatus were studied in solutions of nickel and chromium sulfates and sulfuric acid. The decrease in the conductivity of membranes and the increase in their diffusion permeability in solutions of all electrolytes after modification with polyaniline were estimated. The key effect of the charge of the counterion on the electrical conductivity of the initial and modified membranes was confirmed, and an unusual effect of reducing the electrical conductivity of the MF-4SK/PANI membrane with an increase in the concentration of a solution containing multi-charged counter-ion was found. The information on the effect of multi-charged ions on the structure of a homogeneous and heterogeneous membranes, obtained by the method of standard contact porometry, is supplemented by the estimation of transport and structural parameters of microheterogeneous model. Based on the analysis of the parameters of current-voltage curves in solutions of nickel and chromium sulfates and sulfuric acid, the prospects of using the polyaniline-modified membranes in the processes of electrodialysis treatment of acid solutions containing multi-charged ions are evaluated.

Spectra of Multiply Charged Ions in Laser Plasma Formed from Gas-Containing Targets

The paper presents the results of a study of the charge and energy characteristics of multiply charged ions excited on the surface of a single-element and hydrogen-containing multi-component element targets under the influence of laser radiation with a power density (q=108-1012 W/cm2). It has been experimentally shown that, for all used values of q laser radiation, laser-induced plasma from gas-containing targets is characterized by a lower relative yield (dN/dE) of multi-charged ions with a charge number of Z>+3, compared to the plasma produced on the surface of the single element target. Moreover, the tendency to reduce dN/dE of multi-charged ions of the multi-element target, in comparison with the relative yield of ions from the plasma of the single-element target, is more significant and it depends on the charge of the excited ions. The increase in the charge and energy state, duration, and yield of ions of the heavy component, which occurs with an increase in the content of the light component in the target, has been established. This is explained by a decrease in the efficiency of recombination processes caused by an increase in the expansion velocity of a plasma plume due to a decrease in its average mass.

NEW CONCEPT OF THE MAIN PART OF MULTICHARGED IONS LINEAR ACCELERATOR ON THE COMBINED RF FOCUSING BASIS

A new concept of the main part of multicharged ions linear accelerator (MILAC) NSC KIPT on the combined RF focusing (CRFF) basis is proposed. In CRFF acceleration and focusing of the charged particles occurs at the expense of the same accelerating field. Absence of an external focusing field sources a design and operation of the accelerator main part considerably simplifies. The construction principle of accelerating&focusing channels with CRFF is considered. The mathematical modeling findings of a beam dynamics for particles with mass-to-charge ratio of A/q=5 in the energies range of 1…9.2 МeV/u are resulted. Realization of this focusing method on a basis of an interdigital H type accelerating structure is proposed.

The Role of Stepwise Photoionization in Measurements of the Ionization Potentials in Dense Plasma

The interaction of high-contrast high-intensity laser radiation with solids allows us to create hot or warm plasma of solid or even over-solid density, such as in the case of inertial fusion particularly. The multicharged ions contained in it can no longer be considered isolated. As a result, this leads to a decrease in the ionization potentials and to the disappearance of a number of bound ionic states. To describe the ionization potential depression, two major approaches are now used predominantly, where the key parameter is either average interelectronic or interionic distance. Since neither of the approaches can be substantiated purely theoretically, their applicability can only be established by comparison with experimental results. In recent experiments with X-ray free-electron lasers, it was concluded that the ionization potential depression rather depends on the interelectronic distance. However, when measuring ionization potentials, it was assumed that the main role in ionization processes is played by the direct photoionization of the ion ground state. In the present paper, we show that stepwise photoionization processes should play a significant role in dense plasma, disrupting a straight correspondence between the threshold in direct photoionization by X-ray laser photons and the actual ionization potential of multicharged ions. It means that the measurement results mentioned above are not correct, and the main conclusion about the importance of the interelectronic distance for depression of the ionization potential is not correct.

Calculation of the Central Region of the Multicharged Ions Cyclotron

Calculation of the Central Region of the Multicharged Ions Cyclotron

Status of Project Realization of the Cyclotron System of Multicharged Ions

Status of Project Realization of the Cyclotron System of Multicharged Ions

Design Features of Acceleration and Extraction Systems of Multicharged Ion Beams

Design Features of Acceleration and Extraction Systems of Multicharged Ion Beams

The effects of electron energy distribution and ionization cross section uncertainty on charge breeder ion source diagnostics with pulsed 1+ injection

The consecutive transients (CT) method is a plasma diagnostic technique of charge breeder electron cyclotron resonance ion source plasmas. It is based on the short-pulse injection of singly charged ions and the measurement of the resulting transients of the extracted multi-charged ion beams. Here, we study the origin of the large uncertainty bounds yielded by the method to reveal avenues to improve its accuracy. We investigate effects of the assumed electron energy distribution (EED) and the uncertainty inherited from the ionization cross section data of K4+–K12+ ions on the resulting plasma electron density ne, average energy ⟨Ee⟩, and the characteristic times of ion confinement τq, electron impact ionization τinzq, and charge exchange τcxq provided by the CT method. The role of the EED was probed with Kappa and double-Maxwellian distributions, the latter resulting in a shift of the ne and ⟨Ee⟩ distributions. The uncertainty of the ionization cross section σq→q+1inz was artificially curtailed to investigate its impact on values and uncertainties of the plasma parameters. It is demonstrated that the hypothetical perfect knowledge of σq→q+1inz significantly reduces the uncertainties of τq, τinzq, and τcxq, which motivates the need for improved cross section data.

Axial and radial space-charge effects in radiofrequency gas-filled low-pressure quadrupole ion guides

This paper presents theoretical and experimental study results of the space-charge (SC) effects in gas-filled radiofrequency ion guides, typically operating at ∼1 Pa gas pressures. A self-consistent Coulomb interaction simulation allows modeling the ion self-propulsion by the own SC, optionally supplemented by an external axial field. The simulations are accelerated with an improved collision model, combining the hard-sphere and polarization interaction models. Simulated ion beam parameters are consistent with the experimental measurements performed with an orthogonal accelerating time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The experimental and theoretical studies consistently demonstrate notable SC effects in ion guides, even at moderate ion currents in the sub-nA range. The effects become softer when using a weak ∼0.02 V/mm axial field. The efficiency of the ion guides improves with their miniaturization. The simulations and experiments demonstrate stronger beam compression for multiple-charged ions, even in the presence of SC effects, thus providing shorter turnaround times in orthogonal accelerators. The SC effects depend on the ion beam composition in the ion guides; the presence of light or multicharged ions strongly affects the ion motion of heavier species with a lower charge.

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.