Multicusp negative ion source

Abstract

The characteristics of a steady state, surface conversion, multiline-cusp negative ion source have been investigated for the production of high-energy neutral beams. With the presence of cesium, this source has been operated at a neutral pressure of 1×10−3 Torr to generate a H− ion current greater than 400 mA. The percentage of impurities in the self-extracted negative ion beam has been analyzed by a mass spectrometer. A technique for reducing the background electron density at the source exit is also presented.