Ionization efficiency studies with charge breeder and conventional electron cyclotron resonance ion source

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Plasma Physics

Background:

• Radioactive Ion Beams are crucial for European research facilities like SPES and EURISOL.
• Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source (ECRIS) charge breeders (CBs) have advanced, but charge breeding physics requires further study.
• The European EMILIE collaboration aims to optimize charge breeding by studying fundamental plasma processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate plasma processes in charge breeders for optimization.
• Compare charge breeding performance using gas mixing and 2-frequency heating.
• Analyze the impact of different ECRIS devices on ion beam production.

Main Methods:

• Conducted experiments using a conventional JYFL 14 GHz ECRIS and the LPSC-PHOENIX charge breeder.
• Employed gas mixing and 2-frequency heating techniques.
• Utilized noble gases for initial experimental runs.

Main Results:

• For conventional ECRIS, gas mixing and 2-frequency heating effects on high charge state production are additive.
• Differences between conventional ECRIS and charge breeders minimally affect ion beam production efficiency for noble gases.
• Initial experiments provided insights into charge breeding physics.

Conclusions:

• Gas mixing and 2-frequency heating techniques offer additive benefits for high charge state production in conventional ECRIS.
• Charge breeder design variations have a limited impact on ion beam production efficiency.
• Further research within the EMILIE project will refine charge breeding optimization.