Beam dynamics of mixed high intensity highly charged ion Beams in the Q/A selector

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2017-06, Vol.857, p.106-110
• Main Authors: Zhang, X.H., Yuan, Y.J., Yin, X.J., Qian, C., Sun, L.T., Du, H., Li, Z.S., Qiao, J., Wang, K.D., Zhao, H.W., Xia, J.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hollow beam; Mixed heavy ions beam; Q/A selector; Space charge
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2017.03.034

Electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion sources are widely used in heavy ion accelerators for their advantages in producing high quality intense beams of highly charged ions. However, it exists challenges in the design of the Q/A selection systems for mixed high intensity ion beams to reach sufficient Q/A resolution while controlling the beam emittance growth. Moreover, as the emittance of beam from ECR ion sources is coupled, the matching of phase space to post accelerator, for a wide range of ion beam species with different intensities, should be carefully studied. In this paper, the simulation and experimental results of the Q/A selection system at the LECR4 platform are shown. The formation of hollow cross section heavy ion beam at the end of the Q/A selector is revealed. A reasonable interpretation has been proposed, a modified design of the Q/A selection system has been committed for HIRFL-SSC linac injector. The features of the new design including beam simulations and experiment results are also presented.