Efficiency and transit time studies performed with the electron cyclotron resonance ion source dedicated to the radioactive ion beam production at ISAC/TRIUMF

An electron cyclotron resonance ion source was developed and installed for radioactive ion beam production from gaseous elements at ISAC/TRIUMF. A single mode resonator was used as the microwave cavity and a small quartz tube (70 times smaller than the cavity itself) was placed in it to define the plasma boundaries. The main design considerations were given to the transit time, reliability, and efficiency as well as radiation hardness to a dose rate of about 10(5) Gy/h. The transit time and the efficiency of the source for inert gases ranging from helium to xenon are presented. The technical and fundamental aspects of the source as well as the unique features due to the design constrains at the ISAC online terminal are also briefly discussed in this article. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.