Manufacturing and Testing Metamaterial Arrays

Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion sources generate the ions accelerated at Texas A&M's Cyclotron Institute. However, while scientists know how to use ECR ion source to create specific ions, the properties of the plasma within the source are relatively unknown. The ultimate goal of this project is to install a microwave camera into the ECR ion source to gain a temperature gradient over the plasma. The results from this project will provide knowledge about the fundamental properties of the ECR plasma, which will give enhanced knowledge of the ECR ion source, creating stronger beams for the cyclotron. My contribution to this project included developing code for the microwave camera's metamaterial array control system, assisting in designing manufacturing and testing procedures for the metamaterial arrays, and making reflectivity measurements as part of the preliminary validation of the metamaterial design. An update on the progression of the creation of the system will be shown.