Intense ion beam generation in an anomalous glow discharge with non-metallic liquid anode

A new type of an effective and compact ion source has been developed in the D.V. Efremov Institute. Conducted researches have shown that such type of the source provide currents of tens mA operating in the long stationary mode, since it is easily scaled. It permits to consider opportunities of industrial use of similar ion sources. The main feature of the source is use of a liquid with rather high pressure of residual vapours in the anode. Similar sources of ions with a liquid metal anode (LMS), which work in deep vacuum, are known. Going from liquid metal emitters to liquid dielectric with higher pressure of residual vapours (such as mineral oils, alcohol, benzene), we managed to receive considerably larger currents of Ampere scale. The operating conditions corresponded to lower vacuum of 10/sup -2/-10/sup -3/ Torr. Thus, if in an LMS practically there are no discharge effects, here they should already play appreciable, if not determining role. It is production of discharge plasma of high enough concentration that determines opportunities of high currents generation. Sources of ions with liquid dielectric in the anode emitter are characterized with the plasma production directly at the surface of the emitter in addition to concentration of the electrical field (as it takes place in an LMS).