Production of positive hydrogen ion beam by an RF-driven multicusp source

Summary form only given. An RF-driven H/sup -/ source has recently been developed at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory for use in the injector unit of the SSC (Superconducting Super Collider). It has been demonstrated that pulsed RF power higher than 50 kW could be coupled to the plasma via a porcelain-coated copper antenna. The same source (10-cm-diam) and a smaller multicusp source (2.5-cm-diam) have also been tested for positive hydrogen ion production in continuous-wave and pulsed modes. Both sources are optimized for the best atomic hydrogen ion species and extractable current. It is found that the porcelain coating on the antenna is very durable and that it stays intact after days of continuous operation in both ion sources.