Laboratory Source of Light Ions with a Discharge Chamber Based on an Out-of-Limit Waveguide for Installing on a High-Voltage Platform

Abstract

The Kurchatov Complex of Theoretical and Experimental Physics at the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” is developing an ion source for a multibeam installation to perform experiments for the rapid analysis of radiation resistance of structural materials used in nuclear and thermonuclear reactors. Reproducing the processes that occur in a reactor requires irradiating samples of structural materials with two or three ion beams [1]. Irradiation with one type of heavy ions (e.g., Fe²⁺, Ti²⁺, and Co²⁺) and one type of light ions (H⁺/He⁺) is done simultaneously in one chamber. A compact ion source with a discharge chamber based on an extreme waveguide is being developed for generating light ion beams to be installed on a high-voltage platform. The design of the light ion source is described and preliminary results on the generation of a helium ion beam are presented.