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The influence of metal-dielectric (MD) layers (MD structures) inserted into the plasma chamber of an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) onto the production of electron bremsstrahlung radiation has been studied in a series of dedicated experiments at the 14 GHz ECRIS of the Institut für Kernphysik der Universität Frankfurt. The IKF-ECRIS was equipped with a MD liner, covering the inner walls of the plasma chamber, and a MD electrode, covering the plasma-facing side of the extraction electrode. On the basis of similar extracted currents of highly charged ions, significantly reduced yields of bremsstrahlung radiation for the “MD source” as compared to the standard (stainless steel) source have been measured and can be explained by the significantly better plasma confinement in a MD source as compared to an “all stainless steel” ECRIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-dielectric (MD)-structures in electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) devices (partially) restore the plasma ambipolarity and supply cold electrons to the plasma. Both effects lead to an enhancement of the plasma electron density and temperature and significantly increase the performance of this type of ion source. At the same time, MD-structures are well suited to reduce the heat load on cold masses by Bremsstrahlung radiation. Here, we report on experiments at high microwave powers to test the practical use of MD-structures for new, high performance ECRISs with their much higher power densities. The comparatively long conditioning times can be shortened by covering only those parts of the source with MD-structures, which are essential for the improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forming on an aluminum surface a dielectric layer of alumina (aluminum oxide) in order to create a metal-dielectric (MD) structure increases the secondary-electron emission properties. The idea of using this material as a MD (A1-A1[sub 2]O[sub 3]) cylindrical liner inside an ECR ion source was previously tested in the 14 GHz ECRIS of IKF (Frankfurt/Main, Germany). The purpose of the present experiment was to observe the effect of such a MD liner on the high charge state operation of the KVI 14 GHz ECRIS, in particular in comparison to the technique of gas mixing. Measurements were made both with and without the MD liner, with pure argon and with an argon plus oxygen mixture. In the case of pure argon, the source with the MD liner is running remarkably stable. The high charge state ion beam currents are by far higher than those obtained in the situation where the source was operated with pure argon but without the MD linen With MD liner, some low intensity oxygen peaks were clearly present in the spectra, implying that oxygen escaping or sputtered from the MD structure could give rise to an effect of "gas mixing." Therefore, the effect of mixing small amounts of oxygen into an argon plasma without the liner was studied in the same conditions of rf power and O[sub 3+] peak intensity. The conclusion was that the high charge state beam increase is not due to the oxygen gas mixing effect. The reason for the good performances of the source in the presence of the MD liner can be the increased density of cold electrons, but other effects could occur as well. This is subject of further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]