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arXiv · 0811.2865

Three-dimensional simulations of ion dynamics in the plasma of an Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source

Abstract

The ion production in an ECRIS is modelled using a particle-in-cell Monte-Carlo collision code in a three-dimensional geometry. Only the heavy particles (ions and atoms) are tracked, with the electron density determined from the requirement of quasi-neutrality, and the electron temperature is a free parameter. The electric fields in the plasma are assumed to be negligibly small, and the ion confinement due to a "potential dip" is neglected. It is found that experimentally observed features of ECRIS plasma are closely reproduced by the code, including the charge-state-distributions of extracted ion beams and sputtering patterns inside the source. The isotope anomaly is observed for the mixture of 20Ne + 22Ne isotopes, and some explanation for the effect is given. Possible connection between the wall-coating effect and parameters of the fast atoms created in collisions of the ions with the walls is discussed.

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V. Mironov, J. P. M. Beijers. 2008-11-18. Three-dimensional simulations of ion dynamics in the plasma of an Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevstab.12.073501

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