Vacuum arc ion source for heavy ion fusion

Heavy ion fusion is one approach to the problem of controlled thermonuclear power production, in which a small DT target is bombarded by an intense flux of heavy ions and compressed to fusion temperatures. There is a need in present HIF research and development for a reliable ion source for the production of heavy ion beams with low emittance, low beam noise, ion charge states Q=1+ to 3+, beam current -0.5 A, pulse width similar to 5-20 mu s, and repetition rate similar to 10 pulses per second. We have explored the suitability of a vacuum are ion source for this application. Energetic, high current, gadolinium ion beams were produced with parameters as required or close to those required. The performance parameters can all be improved yet further in an optimized ion source design. Here we describe the ion source configuration used, the experiments conducted, and the results obtained. We conclude that a vacuum are based metal ion source of this kind could be an excellent candidate for heavy ion fusion research application. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.