Development of an intense pulsed metallic ion beam source

Intense pulse metallic ion beams (Al⁺, Cu⁺, and Pb⁺) were produced by a magnetically insulated ion diode having a metal anode. Metal ion plasmas on the anode could be generated through enhanced electron bombardment by using a radial cathode. The energy, current density, and duration time of the lead ion beam were 30~140 keV, ~7.5 A/cm² (total ion current ⩾0.5 kA), and 800 ns, respectively. The ion current density exceeded the space-charge-limited current by a factor of 50. The lead ions in the first-to-sixth states of ionization were detected by a Thomson-parabola ion-spectrometer together with light loss, such as C⁺ and O ⁺. The ratio of the ion current of heavy metals to the total ion current was measured using a magnetic mass analyzer with a charge collector. The ratio was about 90% for a lead ion beam and 20~50% for Al and Cu ion beams     

Surface enhancement of molecular ion H_2~+ yield in a 2.45-GHz electron–cyclotron resonance ion source

High current hydrogen molecular ion beam is obtained with a specially designed stainless steel liner permanent magnet2.45-GHz electron–cyclotron resonance(ECR) ion source(PMECR II) at Peking University(PKU). To further understand the physics of the hydrogen generation process inside a plasma chamber, theoretical and experimental investigations on the liner material of the plasma chamber in different running conditions are carried out. Several kinds of materials, stainless steel(SS), tantalum(Ta), quartz, and aluminum(Al) are selected in our study. Experimental results show that stainless steel and tantalum are much better than others in H~+_2 generation. During the experiment, an increasing trend in H~+_2 fraction is observed with stainless steel liner after O_2 discharge inside the ion source. Surface analyses show that the roughness change on the surface after O_2 discharge may be responsible for this phenomenon. After these studies, the pure current of H~+_2 ions can reach 42.3 mA with a fraction of 52.9%. More details are presented in this paper.     

Atomic collision processes relevant for heavy ion beam probes

Atomic collision processes of fast Tl and Cs ions with particles in a high temperature fusion plasma are investigated. At low beam energies (<5 MeV), ion impact collisions and charge exchange processes can be neglected compared to electron ionization processes. At beam energies above 5 MeV and high plasma ion temperatures, collisions with ions start to contribute significantly to signal generation and attenuation. Also, collisions with the neutral background gas in the beamlines can attenuate the ion beam significantly and lower the signal level, if the vacuum pressure is above 10^-4 Torr. For the heavy ion beam probes operating today, only electron impact ionization processes are important and accurate predictions of the secondary signal level and electron density profile measurements are possible because of the good knowledge of electron impact ionization cross sections for Cs ⁺ and Tl⁺ ions     

Secondary ion emission from clean and K-covered Ni surfaces near threshold impact energies

Clean and K-covered Ni surfaces are bombarded with low energy (10–500 eV) beams of He⁺, Ne⁺, Ar²⁺, and Kr⁺ ions, and the emitted ion yield is measured as a function of beam energy. The apparent threshold energies for K⁺ and Ni⁺ emission are proportional to the ionic binding energies of K⁺ and Ni⁺ to the Ni surface. From comparison of the ion and neutral yield curves, it is suggested that these ions are emitted via momentum transfer collisions similar to neutral sputtering.     

Nitrogen ion spectrum from a low energy plasma focus device

The nitrogen ion spectrum generated from a low energy Mather-type Plasma Focus device is reported. The main species of ions present are N ⁺¹, N⁺², and N⁺³. It is found that its relative concentrations at a distance of several cm from the ion source are in agreement with those predicted for an equilibrium charge-state of the beam, and hence the spectrum of the neutral nitrogen is also derived. By taking into account the lateral spread of the beam due to multiple elastic scattering with the background gas, the derivation of absolute values for the total ion spectrum within the investigated energy range (>170 keV), the total number and total energy of the fast particles has been obtained     

Experimental and theoretical investigation of oxygen glow dischargestructure at low pressures

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the oxygen glow discharge structure at low pressures has been performed. Radial dependencies of the electron energy distribution function, the ambipolar plasma potential, and the negative ion concentration, as well as the axial electric field and the concentrations of atomic and singlet oxygen were measured. A new approach to the application of laser photodetachment method has been used to measure the negative ion concentration. It allows one to obtain information about fast processes after the photodetachment at low frequencies (~100-200 Hz) by using the simplest modulation technique. A self-consistent model involving the electrodynamics and kinetics of the discharge was developed. The observed variations of the negative ion densities with current density and oxygen pressure were explained in the model frame by a dependence of the detachment rate constant of the O^-+O→e+O₂ process on the effective ion temperature (k=1.9·10^-10-√1100/T_i^eff). It was shown that the feature of oxygen dc discharge at low pressures is a possibility to change the basic type of negative ions from the O^- to the O₂^-. This effect become more pronounced with decreasing current density     

Charge state and residence time of metal ions generated from amicrosecond vacuum arc

Metal ions generated from a microsecond vacuum arc were measured using a time-of-flight (TOF) method. A point-plane vacuum gap was fired by an impulse voltage to generate metal ions. The risetime and time constant for the decay of the arc current were 0.1 and 4.5 μs, respectively. TOF ion currents were measured for variable ion extraction times after the arc ignition. At a lead cathode, Pb⁺ and Pb ⁺⁺ ions were detected for ion extraction times less than 45 μs. The average charge-state fractions of the Pb⁺ and Pb ⁺⁺ ions were 91 and 9%, respectively. At a copper cathode, Cu ⁺, Cu⁺⁺, and Cu⁺⁺⁺ ions were detected for ion-extraction times less than 12.5 μs, and the average charge-state fractions were 42, 41, and 17%, respectively. The residence times of the generated lead and copper ions were also discussed     

Dependence of Auger depth resolution and surface texturing on primary ion species

The dependence of Auger depth resolution and surface texturing on primary ion species was systematically investigated for polycrystalline Al, Mo, Ag and Ta films deposited on Si wafers, using 3 keV Ne⁺, Ar⁺ and Xe⁺ ions as projectiles. The resolution was found to depend strongly on ion species; the higher the ion mass, the better the resolution. The resolution improvement attained with Xe⁺ ions was dramatic for Al, becoming less pronounced for higher mass targets. As revealed by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, Xe⁺ sputtering led to less-developed topographical structures of sputtered areas, which allowed us to conclude that ion sputtering with heavier ions roughens the surface less, resulting in a marked improvement in resolution.     

Relativistic electron beam generation in a plasma-filled diode withfoilless injection into a dense plasma

In the experiments an relativistic electron beam (REB)-plasma interaction, the foilless injection of REB from a magnetized diode is of special interest due to the low spread angle of the beam and high repetition rate of the shots. In the experiments presented, the problem of diode shortening in the presence of a dense plasma from the interaction chamber has been solved using a special drift pipe as an anode of the foilless diode. The electron beam (U_d~0.7 MeV, t _b~100-200 ns) produced by an axially symmetric magnetically insulated diode has been injected into a magnetized hydrogen plasma column with density ranging from 1·10¹⁵-3·10 ¹⁶ cm^-3. It has been found that the anode pipe substantially reduces the plasma flow into the diode gap, but does not stop it completely, thus the REB generation in a plasma-filled diode has taken place. In some regimes of the beam generation it becomes possible to increase significantly the injected current and total energy deposition of the beam in comparison with the case of a vacuum magnetized diode of the same geometry. The experiments have shown effective dense plasma heating under the foilless injection     

Coulomb explosion of CS_2 molecule under an intense femtosecond laser field

We experimentally demonstrate the Coulomb explosion process of CS_2 molecule under a near-infrared(800 nm)intense femtosecond laser field by a DC-sliced ion imaging technique. We obtain the DC-sliced images of these fragment ions S~+, S~(2+), CS~+, and CS~(2+)by breaking one C–S bond, and assign their Coulomb explosion channels by considering their kinetic energy release and angular distribution. We also numerically simulate the dissociation dynamics of parent ions CS_2~(k+)(k = 2–4) by a Coulomb potential approximation, and obtain the time evolution of Coulomb energy and kinetic energy release, which indicates that the dissociation time of parent ions CS_2~(k+) decreases with the increase of the charge number k.These experimental and theoretical results can serve as a useful benchmark for those researchers who work in the related area.     

Transmission of low-energy (< 10 eV) O ions through Au films on TiO2(110)

In an attempt to identify the fundamental processes that influence ion transport through metallic surface layers, we have studied the transmission of O⁺ ions through discontinuous Au films adsorbed on TiO₂(110). A low energy (< 10 eV) O⁺ ion beam is generated via electron stimulated desorption when an Au-dosed TiO₂(110) substrate is bombarded with a focused 250 eV electron beam. Low energy ion scattering data indicate that Au evaporated under ultrahigh vacuum conditions at 300 K forms three-dimensional clusters on TiO₂(110). As the Au coverage increases, the formation of Au clusters on TiO₂(110) blocks a fraction of the TiO₂ surface and the O⁺ yield is attenuated. However, for high coverages (≥30% Au covered substrate) the O⁺ signal decreases at a faster rate than the TiO₂ open area fraction. We attribute the attenuation of the O⁺ yield for high Au coverages mainly to blocking of O⁺ by Au clusters, to deflection of trajectories by the image force between ions and Au clusters, and to charge transfer between desorbing O⁺ and neighboring Au clusters.     

回流离子源特征分析

强流电子束轰击在辐射转换靶上可产生正离子. 这些离子在电子束空间电荷场作用下回流，对电子束聚焦会有影响，从而可能改变焦斑大小，影响X光机的照相分辨率. 离子种类、离子流的大小是很关注的参量. 本文分析了回流离子来源及其特征，认为回流离子以靶表面杂质热释放后被电子束直接电离生成的离子为主，离子发射受空间电荷限制而非受源限制.     

Residence time and charge state of silver and zinc ions generatedfrom microsecond vacuum arcs

One mm vacuum gaps with silver or zinc needle-cathode were fired by a 13 μs duration sinusoidal arc or a 9 μs duration exponentially decaying arc. Time-of-flight (TOF) ion measurements were made at variable ion extraction times after the arc ignition to measure the charge state and residence time of the ions. Ag⁺, Ag⁺⁺ and Ag⁺⁺⁺ ions were generated from silver cathode and Zn⁺ and Zn⁺⁺ were generated from zinc cathode. Residual gas atom ions were generated together with the metal ions. Residence times of silver and zinc ions at the acceleration space, which was 15-25 mm apart from the needle cathode, were 5 μs and 17 μs, respectively, regardless the waveform of the arc current. Charge state fractions of silver and zinc ions were determined from the TOF ion currents and were compared with the results by other researchers     

电场磁场平行型中性粒子分析器剥离单元和分析单元的设计与模拟

介绍了电场磁场平行型中性粒子分析器(E//B NPA)的剥离单元和分析单元的结构设计。剥离单元由剥离室(包括两个差分管和供气波纹管)、真空室(包括一个中性粒子进入孔和一个离子排出孔)和真空抽气系统组成。计算了分析器的剥离效率，用综合效率的形式R×f₊₁表示，R是透射率，f₊₁是电荷态为+1的粒子的比例。E//B NPA的分析磁场由永磁铁、磁极和磁轭构成的磁体来实现，永磁铁的材料是NdFeB，磁极和磁轭的材料是低碳钢。磁极采用收口式设计，以聚焦离子的飞行轨迹，并提高磁场的利用率。通过对电磁场中带电粒子飞行轨迹的模拟，观察到H⁺和D⁺在探测面上的离子轰击点分为上下两行，并分别按照能量由低至高从左到右排布。所模拟H⁺和D⁺的能量范围分别为20～200keV和10～200keV，可以满足HL-2A和HL-2M装置上中性束注入加热等离子体时快离子质谱和能谱的诊断需求。     

低速Xe~(q+)(4≤q≤20)离子与Ni表面碰撞中的光辐射

实验中测量了0.38V_(Bohr)(460 keV)高电荷态Xe~(q+)(4≤q≤20)离子轰击高纯Ni表面发射的400-510 nm光谱.实验结果包括NiⅠ原子谱线,NiⅡ离子谱线,以及入射离子中性化发射的XeⅠ,XeⅡ和XeⅢ谱线.研究了谱线XeⅡ410.419,XeⅢ430.444,XeⅡ434.200,XeⅡ486.254,NiⅠ498.245,NiⅠ501.697,NiⅠ503.502,NiⅠ505.061和NiⅠ508.293 nm的光子产额随着入射离子电荷态的变化.结果表明,入射离子中性化和溅射Ni原子发射谱线的光子产额随着入射离子电荷态的增加而增加,其趋势与入射离子势能一致.     

超短超强激光脉冲辐照超薄碳膜电离状态研究

为了进一步理解极端条件下物质的电离特性, 特别是超短超强激光脉冲辐照超薄靶时等离子体的形成与分布, 本文以超薄碳膜为例, 细致研究了超短超强激光脉冲辐照下原子的离化过程. 分析和比较了强激光场直接作用电离和靶内静电场电离等两种场致电离形式, 在碰撞电离可以忽略的情况下, 发现更多的电离份额是来自靶内静电场的电离方式. 研究了激光脉冲强度对电离的影响, 发现激光脉冲强度越强, 电离速度越快, 产生的高价态离子所占比例也越高.当激光强度为1×10²⁰ W/cm²时, 尽管该强度高于电离生成C⁺⁶所需要的激光强度阈值, 但该激光脉冲并不能将整个靶电离成C⁺⁶离子, 对此本文进行了详细的分析. 在研究激光脉冲宽度的影响时, 发现激光脉宽越小, 电离速度越快, 但越小的激光脉冲电离获得的高价态离子越少.     

Efficiently enhanced energy storage performance of Ba2Bi4Ti5O18 film by co-doping Fe3+ and Ta5+ ion with larger radius

We present an efficient strategy, that is the co-substitution of Fe³⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ ions with large radius for Ti⁴⁺ ion, to enhance energy storage performance of Ba₂Bi₄Ti₅O₁₈ film. For the films co-doped with Fe³⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ ions, the maximum polarization under the same external electric field is improved because the radius of Fe³⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ ions is larger than that of Ti⁴⁺ ion. Moreover, due to the composition and chemical disorder, the relaxor properties are also slightly improved, which can not be achieved by the film doped with Fe³⁺ ions only. What is more, for the films doped with Fe³⁺ ion only, the leakage current density increases greatly due to the charge imbalance, resulting in a significant decrease in breakdown strength. It is worth mentioning that the breakdown strength of Fe³⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ ions co-doped film does not decrease due to the charge balance. Another important point is the recoverable energy storage density of the films co-doped with Fe³⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ ions has been greatly improved based on the fact that the maximum external electric field does not decrease and the maximum polarization under the same external electric field increases. On top of that, the hysteresis of the polarization has also been improved. Finally, the co-doped films with Fe³⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ ions have good frequency and temperature stability.     

Results of vacuum cleaning techniques on the performance of LiFfield-threshold ion sources on extraction applied-B ion diodes at 1-10TW

Uncontrolled plasma formation on electrode surfaces limits performance in a wide variety of pulsed power devices such as electron and ion diodes, transmission lines, radio frequency (RF) cavities, and microwave devices. Surface and bulk contaminants on the electrodes in vacuum dominate the composition of these plasmas, formed through processes such as stimulated and thermal desorption followed by ionization. We are applying RF discharge cleaning, anode heating, cathode cooling, and substrate surface coatings to the control of the effects of these plasmas in the particular case of applied-B ion diodes on the SABRE (1 TW) and PBFA-X (30 TW) accelerators. Evidence shows that our LiF ion source provides a 200-700 A/cm² lithium beam for 10-20 ns which is then replaced by a contaminant beam of protons and carbon. Other ion sources show similar behavior. Our electrode surface and substrate cleaning techniques reduce beam contamination, anode and cathode plasma formation, delay impedance collapse, and increase lithium energy, power, and production efficiency. Theoretical and simulation models of electron-stimulated and thermal-contaminant desorption leading to anode plasma formation show agreement with many features from experiment. Decrease of the diode electron loss by changing the shape and magnitude of the insulating magnetic field profiles increases the lithium output and changes the diode response to cleaning. We also show that the LiF films are permeable, allowing substrate contaminants to affect diode behavior. Substrate coatings of Ta and Au underneath the LiF film allow some measure of control of substrate contaminants, and provide direct evidence for thermal desorption. We have increased lithium current density by a factor of four and lithium energy by a factor of five through a combination of in situ surface and substrate cleaning, substrate coatings, and field profile modifications     

Non-radiative transitions as Förster''s energy transfer to solvent vibrations

New experimental evidence is given to the approach suggested by the authors to non-radiative transitions in rare earth and transition metal ions as radiationless energy transfer from ion to ligand and solvent molecule vibrations. Using non-radiative transitions in Yb³⁺ as an example the participation of combinations of vibrations in the electronic energy dissipation was investigated. Dy³⁺ in solutions was used to show the role of anharmonicity in non-radiative transitions. It was proved that the semi-empirical calculations of non-radiative transition rates by Förster's formula gave also good results for Mn²⁺ ions luminescence which is an example of “strong” vibronic interaction. The suggested approach permits to explain the anomalous low probability of the ⁵D₁−⁵D₀ non-radiative transition in the Eu³⁺ ion.     

A short history of heavy ion beam probing

The author describes some aspects of research on controlled thermonuclear fusion as an energy source, starting in the late 1950s. There was a need for new diagnostic techniques for studying high temperature plasmas. The author proposed a diagnostic for measuring plasma density by probing a deuterium plasma with a deuterium beam and measuring the proton production from the D-D nuclear reaction. By the mid 1960s, it was possible to do so. After carrying out a D-D measurement, the author suggested switching over to an H₂⁺ beam and looking for an H⁺ signal. The H+ was loud and clear and that was the last of the nuclear measurements. One of the first things done using the molecular break-up of the H₂⁺ to measure the density of the hollow cathode arc plasma was a study of a coherent instability. The frequency response wasn't sufficient to measure the instability directly, so a Langmuir probe was used to detect the instability. The Langmuir probe gave a signal from a fixed spatial location but the beam probe signal was swept across the plasma giving 2D spatial resolution. This was the first detailed mapping of a plasma instability. Attempts to apply the ion beam probe to measuring the plasma current density in the ST Tokamak are described. Heavy ion beam probing measurements using hollow cathode arcs as target plasmas made it possible to measure T_e at low temperatures and to identify space potential fluctuations. Installation of a beam probe on the Laser Initiated Target Experiment are described, along with work on the ELMO Bumpy Torus, the VERSATOR Tokamak, TMX, TEXT, ISX-B, the Ergodic Magnetic Limiter and ATF