Speaker
Description
The ion source utilized in the SNS accelerator complex is an RF‑driven, multicusp‑confined, Cs‑enhanced H⁻ source. It is presently operated at approximately 50 mA of H⁻ beam current (measured at the LEBT exit) with a 6% duty-factor (1.0 ms, 60 Hz), supporting the SNS proton beam power on target near 2.0 MW. Producing this beam current typically requires about 50 kW of RF power for the ion source. Through enhanced hardware quality assurance and improved methods and protocols for refurbishment, conditioning, and operation, a single ion source installation can now reliably support an entire SNS run cycle (4–6 months) without the need for interruptive maintenance.
On the R&D front, a series of multifaceted enhancements to the beam extraction system have recently enabled the demonstration of H⁻ beam currents exceeding 150 mA at the same operating conditions of approximately 50 kW RF power and a 6% duty-factor. These advancements provide ample beam current margin for future SNS operations, including the planned two-target configuration with proton beam power up to 2.8 MW, and offer a promising pathway toward very high current, long‑lived H⁻ sources for next‑generation multi‑megawatt proton accelerators.
| Email address | hanb@ornl.gov |
|---|---|
| Classification/Track | H- and D- sources for fusion, accelerators and other applications |
| Visitor's Visa | no |
| Classification | H- and D- sources for fusion, accelerators and other applications |