Operating Experience With A High Repetition Rate Intense Ion Beam Diode Accelerator

A magnetically insulated ion beam diode with a magnetically controlled anode plasma is being operated as a high repetition rate intense ion beam source. This paper discusses the unique capabilities and requirements of the < 150kV 40kA 100ns ion diode and its related pulsed power systems, and describes our operating experience to date. Operation at > 100Hz (burst mode) provides insight into repetition rate limitations of both the ion diode and beam diagnostics. The ability to take hundreds of shots per day permits performing statistical analysis of diode operation as a function of various parameters. Data from both types of experiments will be presented. The pulsed power systems were described previously. This paper will present the evolution of the design and construction of various pulsed power and diode components which have now survived > 10,000 shots. A high speed data acquisition system and companion analysis software capable of acquiring data at Ims intervals in bursts and processing it in < 1 minute between bursts is described.