Low Inductance Z-discharge Metal Vapor (LIZ-MeV) source for high charge state ion production

At the Brookhaven relativistic heavy ion collider, a LIZ-MeV ion-source-based preinjector may be an alternative to the currently-used tandem Van de Graaff. The goal is to generate highly-stripped heavy ions via a high current, high voltage discharge. Based on a previous work,\footnote{N. Debolt, A. Hershcovitch, B.M. Johnson, N. Rostoker, A. Van Drie F. Wessel, Rev. Sci Instrum. \textbf{73}, 741 (2002).} a source has been constructed with low overall impedance and high relative arc-gap inductance. Generated ions are accelerated through a set of extraction electrodes. Currently the electrode material is aluminum, eventually to be replaced with gold and perhaps uranium. To reduce charge exchange the system operates at better that 10$^{-7}$ Torr. Total inductance of the system, including transmission line, is 166 nH. Time-of-flight diagnosis using a Faraday cup measures the energy spectra of extracted ions.