A particle-in-cell Monte Carlo code for electron beam ion source simulation.

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Computational Physics
• Accelerator Science

Background:

• Electron Beam Ion Sources (EBIS) are crucial for producing highly charged ions.
• Accurate modeling of ion dynamics within EBIS is essential for optimizing performance.
• Existing models may not fully capture complex collision processes and space charge effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel particle-in-cell Monte Carlo code (EBIS-PIC) for simulating ion behavior in EBIS.
• To investigate the influence of atomic and Coulomb collisions on ion trapping.
• To compare simulation results with experimental data from the BNL electron beam test stand (EBTS).

Main Methods:

• Simulated a steady-state electron beam using the PBGUNS code.
• Employed the Monte Carlo method to track injected primary ions and background gas ions.
• Incorporated atomic and Coulomb collisions into the particle tracking.
• Updated space charge potential by solving the Poisson equation iteratively.

Main Results:

• Preliminary simulation results from EBIS-PIC were generated.
• The code successfully models ion tracking, including collision effects and space charge potentials.
• Simulation outcomes show promising agreement with BNL EBTS fast trapping experiments.

Conclusions:

• The EBIS-PIC code provides a viable tool for modeling ion dynamics in EBIS.
• The inclusion of atomic and Coulomb collisions is important for accurate simulations.
• The code's predictive capability is supported by preliminary experimental validation.