Tubular electron beam ion source

Electron beam ion sources (EBISs) provide the highest charge states of ion produced, high pulse ion currents, and a good emittance of an ion beam but an average ion current usually less than that for other sources of highly charged ions, for example, electron cyclotron resonance. The reason for that is an unusually small volume of electron–ion interaction, which is limited by the acceptable length of the source and by the electron beam perveance. To overcome the last limit while conserving all the advantages of the EBIS mentioned, the general idea of a tubular electron beam ion source (TEBIS) with an off-axis ion extraction is proposed. Construction of a TEBIS and its use in the normal or in the reflex mode of operation could increase an EBIS ion output 100–1000 times. The configuration of TEBIS and the current status of its development is described.