The new 1.2 T–14.5 GHz Caprice source of multicharged ions: Results with metallic elements

Abstract

The 1.2 T–14.5 GHz ECR Caprice source is an upgrade version of previous Caprice sources where the three main ingredients of an ECR ion source of multicharged ions have been optimized: (i) the magnetic configuration has higher axial fields (1.4–1.45 T at the mirror throats) and radial field (1.05 T at the wall inside the plasma chamber) as well as higher mirror ratios, (ii) the 14.5 GHz rf frequency is convenient to higher magnetic fields, and (iii) more efficient electron sources allow the electron density to reach higher values, and thus high extracted ion currents (both first stage and wall coating). Emphasis is given to the metallic elements, the source is able to produce 10 eμA of Ca14+, 3 eμA of Fe17+ and Ni20+, 1 eμA of U37+, while being able to deliver 1130 eμA of O6+, 190 eμA of O7+, and 100 eμA of Ar12+.