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The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a world-class facility for materials research based on neutron scattering. It consists of a negative hydrogen (H-) ion source, linear accelerator, proton accumulator ring, and liquid Hg target. A power upgrade is planned for the device, which will require significant improvements in the negative ion source, including the production of H-beam currents of 70–95 mA (∼2×the present SNS source value), with a pulse length of 1 ms and duty factor of ∼7%. No H-sources currently in existence meet these combined requirements. A proof-of-principle experiment is being constructed in which the rf inductive plasma generator in the present source is replaced by a helicon plasma generator. This is expected to produce a factor of three or better increase in the maximum source plasma density at a reduced rf power level, resulting in significantly increased negative ion current with reduced heat removal requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) has recently begun producing neutrons and is currently on track to becoming a world-leading facility for material science based on neutron scattering. The facility is comprised of an H- ion source, a linear accelerator, an accumulator ring, a liquid-Hg target and a suite of neutron scattering instruments. Over the next several years the average H- current from the ion source will be increased in order to meet the baseline facility requirement of providing 1.4 MW of beam-power to the target and the SNS power upgrade power requirement of 2+ MW on target. Meeting the latter goal will require H- currents of 70–100 mA with an RMS emittance of 0.20–0.35 π mm mrad and a ∼7% duty-factor. To date, the RF-driven-multicusp SNS ion source has only been able to demonstrate sustained operation at 33 mA of beam current at a ∼7% duty-factor. This report details our efforts to develop variations of the current ion source which can meet these requirements. Designs and experimental results are presented for helicon plasma drivers, high-power external antennas, glow-discharge plasma guns and advanced Cs systems. © 2007 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ion source developed for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), is a radio frequency, multi-cusp source designed to produce ∼ 40 mA of H- with a normalized rms emittance of less than 0.2 pi mm mrad. To date, the source has been utilized in the commissioning of the SNS accelerator and has already demonstrated stable, satisfactory operation at beam currents of ∼30 mA with duty-factors of ∼0.1% for operational periods of several weeks. Once the SNS is fully operational in 2008, a beam current duty-factor of 6% (1 ms pulse length, 60 Hz repetition rate) will be required in order to inject the accelerator. To ascertain the capability of the source to deliver beams at this high duty-factor over sustained time periods, several experimental runs have been conducted, each ∼1 week in length, in which the ion source was continuously operated on a dedicated test stand. The results of these tests are reported as well as a theory of the Cs release and transport processes which were derived from these data. The theory was then employed to develop a more effective source conditioning procedure as well as an improved Cs collar design. Initial results of tests employing a Cs collar with enhanced surface ionization geometry are also discussed. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]