The Multiple Acceleration of Ions to Very High Speeds

A larger model of our apparatus for the multiple acceleration of light ions, described in this journal about two years ago, has been constructed and has been in use in nuclear investigations during the past year. The larger equipment here described is capable of generating hydrogen ions with energies up to 5,000,000 volt electrons. At 3,000,000 volts, ion currents of 1/3 microampere are readily obtainable and it is probable that water-cooling of the accelerators and the bombarded targets will result in considerably larger utilizable currents. The apparatus performs in a reliable manner and has many advantages for nuclear research. It is particularly fortunate that within the apparatus there are no high voltages which give rise to penetrating x-rays that interfere with observations of radiations emitted from targets bombarded by the high speed ions. The construction of an even larger apparatus, designed for the generation of hydrogen ions of about 10,000,000 volt electrons energy, has been undertaken.