LABORATORI NAZIONALI DI LEGNARO
The production target and the ion source constitute the core of the selective production of exotic species (SPES) facility. In this complex experimental apparatus for the production of radioactive ion beams, a 40 MeV 200 µA proton beam directly impinges a uranium carbide target, generating approximately 1013 fissions per second. The transfer line allows the unstable isotopes, generated by the 238U fissions in the target, to reach the ion source where they can be ionized and finally accelerated to the subsequent areas of the facility. In this work the plasma ion source at present adopted for the SPES facility is presented and studied in detail by means of electrical, thermal, and structural numerical models. Theoretical results are then compared with electric potential difference, temperature, and displacement measurements. Off-line tests of the ion source are also presented and discussed.

DATA: 10-04-2015