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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
10:42
Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
Published on: May 3, 2019
Development of compact size penning ion source for compact neutron generator
Basanta Kumar Das1, Anurag Shyam
1Energetics and Electromagnetic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Bhat, Near Indira Bridge, Gandhinagar 382428, India. basanta@ipr.res.in
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|January 7, 2009
Summary
This study optimized a compact penning ion source for efficient deuterium ion extraction. Experimental results show that extraction electrode geometry significantly influences ion beam convergence and current, crucial for applications like neutron generators.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Ion Source Technology
- Accelerator Physics
Background:
- Penning ion sources are vital for research applications including neutron generators, material research, and surface etching due to their long life, ease of mounting, and compact size.
- Optimizing ion extraction is critical for enhancing the performance of these sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the performance of a newly developed compact penning ion source.
- To experimentally study the effect of extraction geometry and electrode angle on deuterium ion beam characteristics.
- To determine optimal configurations for efficient ion extraction.
Main Methods:
- Developed a compact penning ion source utilizing a 2 kV high voltage and a 500-gauss axial magnetic field to generate glow discharge.
- Investigated source performance using nitrogen gas for plasma generation and extracted deuterium ions.
- Experimentally varied plasma electrode geometry and extraction electrode angles to analyze their impact on ion beam properties.
Main Results:
- Successfully produced and extracted deuterium ions.
- Demonstrated that plasma electrode geometry significantly affects the plasma meniscus shape, influencing ion beam convergence.
- Confirmed that a larger extraction electrode angle leads to a more converged ion beam, increasing extracted ion current.
Conclusions:
- The geometry of the plasma electrode and the extraction electrode angle are critical parameters for efficient ion extraction and beam focusing in penning ion sources.
- A concave plasma meniscus and optimized electrode angles can achieve a converged ion beam, enhancing source performance for various research applications.
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