High Current Negative Hydrogen Ion Source

A higher current negative ion source is desired for the Spallation Neutron Source. Such a source would also be useful for any accelerator facility with an ion storage ring. Busek is using a different type of plasma source which has the objective of creating a larger population of excited hydrogen molecules which can be used to produce negative ions. Busek constructed a plasma source and examined the plasma exiting from it for excited hydrogen molecule states and electron density and temperature. Both spectroscopic and probe diagnostics were used. In Phase II negative ion extraction will be performed, after which the source will be optimized for negative ion current and duty cycle. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Negative ion sources are primarily used in accelerators for charge exchange injection into synchrotrons or spallation neutron source storage rings (as in the current project) or to produce neutral particle beams which can be used to heat fusion plasmas or as space weapons. They may also be used in tandem accelerators or for accelerator mass spectrometry. Higher negative ion currents would increase performance in all these applications.