Time-resolved investigation of the compensation process of pulsed ion beams

A LEFT system consisting of an ion source, two solenoids, and a diagnostic section has been set up to investigate the space charge compensation process due to residual gas ionization and to study experimentally the rise of compensation. To gain the radial beam potential distribution time resolved measurements of the residual gas ion energy distribution were carried out using a Hughes Rojanski analyzer. To measure the radial density profile of the ion beam a CCD-camera performed time resolved measurements, which allow an estimation the rise time of compensation. Further the dynamic effect of the space charge compensation on the beam transport was shown. A numerical simulation under assumption of selfconsistent states of the beam plasma has been used to determine plasma parameters such as the radial density profile and the temperature of the electrons. The acquired data show that the theoretical estimated rise time of space charge compensation neglecting electron losses is shorter than the build up time determined experimentally. An interpretation of the achieved results is given.