The Metal Vapor Vacuum ARC (MEVVA) High Current Ion Source

An ion source is described in which a metal vapor vacuum arc is used to create the plasma from which the ions are extracted. Beams of a variety of ions have been produced, ranging from lithium up to uranium. At an extraction voltage of 25 kV we've measured an ion beam current of over 1 Ampere, with over 550 ema of the beam in an emittance of 0.07..pi.. cm. mradians (normalized). The ion charge state distribution varies with cathode material and with arc power; for uranium a typical distribution is peaked at U/sup 5 +/, with up to 40% of the beam current in this charge state. 27 refs., 10 figs.