THE LIGHT ION GUIDE CB-ECRIS PROJECT AT THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY CYCLOTRON INSTITUTE

Texas A&M University is currently configuring a scheme for the production of radioactive-ion beams that incorporates a light-ion guide (LIG) coupled with an ECRIS constructed for charge-boosting (CB-ECRIS). This scheme is part of an upgrade to the Cyclotron Institute and is intended to produce radioactive beams suitable for injection into the K500 superconducting cyclotron. The principle of operation is the following: the primary beam interacts with a production target placed in the gas cell. A continuous flow of helium gas maintains a constant pressure of 500 mbar maximum in the cell. Recoils are thermalized in the helium buffer gas and ejected from the cell within the gas flow through a small exit hole. The positively charged recoil ions (1 + ) are guided into a 2.43 m long rf-only hexapole and will be transported in this manner on-axis into the CB-ECRIS (Charge Breeding – ECRIS). The CB-ECRIS will operate at 14.5 GHz and has been specially constructed by Scientific Solutions of San Diego, California for chargeboosting [1]. An overall image of the entire project will be presented with details on different construction phases. Specific measurements and results will be presented as well as future developments.