Nonintercepting diagnostic for the HIF neutralized transport experiment

The NTX experiment at the Heavy Ion Fusion Virtual National Laboratory is exploring the performance of neutralized final focus systems for high perveance heavy ion beams. We are developing a nondestructive beam diagnostic system to characterize the ion beam during its operation. Ion beam space charge is sensed by measuring deflection of monoenergetic electron passing transversely through the ion beam. In this diagnostic system an electron beam of a submillimeter size with 1-5 μA current and 5-8 kV energy will be injected perpendicularly through the ion beam. The position and intensity of the deflected e-beam would be registered on a scintillator for optical analysis to characterize the ion beam. An electron beam of negligible space charge will be deflected at an angle that depends on the charge density and energy distribution of the ion beam along its trajectory. The e-beam current and energy are chosen such that its trajectory will be significantly perturbed without perturbing the ion beam. We present a progress report on this diagnostic system including the characterization of the electron gun, the design of the e-beam transport system, and a study of the scintillator and its associate electronics and photonic components.