Optimization of Electron-Cyclotron-Resonance Charge-Breeder Ions

75546S Many Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) laboratories around the world are using or planning to use Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) Charge Breeders because they provide an economical way of producing RIBs. Currently, charge breeders, which produce multi-charged radioactive ions for nuclear physics research, produce the RIBs by a trial and error method. This project will investigate the beam capture processes in charge breeders and produce a comprehensive suite of numerical simulation tools for the analysis, design, and optimization of ECR ion sources of rare ion beams produced by charge breeders. A significant upgrade to the GEM (Generalized ECR-ion-source Modeling) code will be made, fully utilizing it, for radioactive ion beam source optimization. Phase I established a groundwork for understanding beam capture processes for the singly-charged-ions injected to charge breeders. A Monte Carlo module was developed for estimating the beam capture and charge breeding efficiency within the GEM framework. Phase II will upgrade the Monte Carlo code and the GEM code, validate the codes with experiments, and perform simulations to guide current and future experiments. A suite of numerical modules for the rare ion ECR charge breeder will be developed, which will include the capture of injected ions, charge buildup in the plasma, and the extraction of highly-charged rare ions. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The numerical optimization of multiply charged (radioactive) ion sources should be directly applicable to the Rare Isotope Accelerator facility that is strongly supported by the DOE. A comprehensive suite of numerical tools also should have industrial applications, including advanced plasma processing.