PRODUCTION OF MULTICHARGED METALLIC-IONS BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AN EXCIMER-LASER AND AN ECR ION-SOURCE

This letter reports on the production and the acceleration, with the GANIL 100 kV high voltage platform, of high charge state uranium ions (U-238(25+)). A pulsed excimer laser, injecting a beam axially through the extraction hole of an ECRIS, has been used for ablation on a rotating uranium target. The particles ejected from the solid surface of the target are ionised in the plasma of the source which is fed with oxygen support gas. A 3 e mu A average beam of U-238(25+) has been measured with a solid material consumption approximately of 1 mg/h. A laser pulse of approximate to 30 ns duration (FWHM) generates a plume of emitted particles of approximate to 200 mu s duration (FWHM) which is transformed in the plasma into a beam pulse of approximate to 20 ms duration (FWHM). Time delays between the start of the laser pulse, the plume and the beam pulse have also been measured.