Thermionic Source for electron cooling at IOTA

A new electron cooling experiment is planned at the Integrable Optics Test Accelerator (IOTA) at Fermilab for cooling ~2.5 MeV protons in the presence of intense space-charge. Electron cooling is integral to the study of beam dynamics and has valuable applications for producing high-intensity hadron beams in particle accelerators. For such goals, the electron lens placed in the IOTA ring will be used for electron cooling, as well as space-charge compensation and non-linear dynamics. Here we present the simulations and design of a thermionic electron source for cooling at IOTA. We particularly discuss dimensions and materials of the thermionic source electrodes, as well as the simulation results under such parameters. Furthermore, we present future steps for production and commissioning of this thermionic source at IOTA.