Collective Acceleration of Intense Ion Beams in Vacuum

We have developed a diode system with an insulated anode and rear target that operates in vacuum and produces 4 × 1010 neutrons per pulse. The system forms a pinch discharge that ejects a cluster of collectively accelerated ions that attain full energy in 7 cm. Target neutron data and activation analysis with multiple foils show that pulses of 1014 protons with energy up to 15 MeV have been achieved. Experiments with electrode materials and diode geometry have lead to large improvements in focusing and ion beams have been propagated 8 ft in vacuum. The presence of high-energy carbon ions indicates that the pinch has the capability of forming and accelerating multiple ionized high-Z ions.