Deviation of H− beam extraction simulation model

Abstract

Negative hydrogen ion source extraction system development is dependent on accurate and fast simulation methods for modelling the behaviour of ion and electron beams. Traditionally this type of work has been done using ray-tracing extraction codes, such as IBSimu. The plasma extraction model in IBSimu has been observed to under-estimate the charge density near the plasma sheath, leading to incorrect prediction of the current at which the system produces the optimum emittance. It is suspected that this deviation results from the approximations made by the model, neglecting the magnetic field and collisional effects near the sheath region. Results and comparisons to simulations are presented for three ion sources, for which two show similar variation and one is more accurately modelled. Conclusions with the currently available data can not be made and therefore further experimental and simulation campaigns to study the effect are suggested.