Multiple ionization of metal ions by ECR heating of electrons in vacuum arc plasmas

Abstract

A joint research and development effort has been initiated, whose ultimate goal is the enhancement of the mean ion charge states in vacuum arc metal plasmas by a combination of a vacuum arc discharge and electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heating. Metal plasma was generated by a special vacuum arc mini-gun. Plasma was pumped by high frequency gyrotron-generated microwave radiation. The results have demonstrated substantial multiple ionization of metal ions. For a lead plasma, ECR heating increased the maximum attainable ion charge state from Pb2+ up to Pb6+. The confinement parameter was as high as ∼109 cm−3 s. Further increase of the ion charge states will be attained by increasing the vacuum arc plasma density and optimizing the ECR heating conditions.