Surface-plasma method for the production of negative ion beams

Increased interest in the development of negative ions sources is related to the emergence of important applications of negative-ion beams. These are, first of all, tandem accelerators, high-energy implantation and accelerator-based mass spectrometry, supercollimated beams, charge-exchange injection into cyclic accelerators and storage rings, charge-exchange extraction of beams from cyclotrons, injectors of high-energy neutrals in plasma systems, and charge-exchange beam separation. The development of sources of negative ions and their use in academic research and industry are reviewed. Physical bases and designs of surface-plasma sources of negative ions, as well as the history of their development, are presented.