A universal ion source with a cold cathode

摘要

A plasmotron source of positive low-charge ions of metals and gases with a two-stage discharge is described. The emittances of the ion beams of various elements normalized by the longitudinal velocity and extracted from the source are within 0.1 π cm mrad, and the equivalent proton currents of ions accelerated by a voltage of 50 kV are 120-380 mA. A cold cathode is used in the source. Metal ions are produced in the regime of the vacuum arc discharge in cathode material vapors.