High-Power Metal Ion Beam Source

The novel technique for metal (from Me^1+ to W^6+, Ta^6+) High-Power Ion Beam (HPIB) generation at accelerating voltages U=10-120 kV, ion currents I=5-20 kA, and pulse duration t=0.5-10 ¿s with the surface energy input dW=1-100 J/cm^2 will be designed during Phase I. In the reversed voltage mode such source generates an electron beam with currents I<60 kA. The compact (~1 m^3) source will generate HPIB with large spot-area (10-2000 cm^2). Metal HPIB generation, propagation and steering, charge neutralization, interaction with materials will be investigated, and lower HPIB energies required for surface modification will be determined in Phase II. Low voltage sources will be more convenient for industrial application. After HPIB irradiation metal microhardness can be increased in layers up to 150 ¿m thick with the rest target bulk keeping cold. Simultaneously, surface wear, erosion and corrosion resistance are improved also. Especially important that metal HPIB may be applied for treatment of small size and precision tools, e.g. blades, drills, dies, cutters with diameter smaller than 1-3 mm which are difficult to treat by other techniques. Main application of this program is to improve critical surface parts of space and missile structures. This technique may be also used for simulation of the EMP irradiation on the electronic devices, X-ray generation, even it may be placed at the airplanes and spacecraft for different experiments.