An injector for heavy ion fusion accelerator research

Summary form only given, as follows. A multibeam injector being built to provide 16-500 mA beams of C/sup +/ at 2 MeV energy is presented. The sources are carbon cathode multiple arcs that provide plasma to a double-grid plasma switch. The plasma switch is a planar electrostatic device that prevents ions from entering the extraction gap before the extraction voltage pulse is fired. Data on the performance of this source in a test stand have been obtained. The 1- mu s current pulse will be injected into the acceleration column approximately 30 mu s after the voltage pulse is applied to the column. This allows voltages to equilibrate and the flat spot in the voltage pulse to be reached. The ions are accelerated in a column that consists of titanium electrodes mounted inside aluminum oxide insulator modules. Most of the 16 beam holes are in thick plates which are machined to provide a set of alternating aperture lenses. These lenses focus the beam and inhibit propagation of back streaming electrons.<>