Recent improvements of the LPSC charge breeder

Abstract

LPSC has developed the PHOENIX electron cyclotron resonance Charge Breeder since 2000. The performances have been improved over time acting on the 1+ and N+ beam optics, the base vacuum and the 1+ beam injection. A new objective is to update the booster design to enhance high charge state production and 1+ N+ efficiencies, reduce the co-extracted background beam and improve the ion source tunability. The first step, consisting in increasing the peak magnetic field at injection from 1.2 T to 1.6 T was implemented and significant improvement in 1+N+ efficiencies are reported: 12.9% of 23Na8+, 24.2% of 40Ar8+, 13.3% of 132Xe26+ and 13% of 133Cs26+. The next steps of the upgrade are presented: modification of the axial magnetic structure, significant increase of the plasma chamber radius (72 to 90 mm), plasma heating at 18 GHz (instead of 14 GHz), reduction of chemical elements composing the plasma chamber wall and the surrounding beam line.