Large Aperture Contact Ionized Cs+1 Ion Source for an Induction Linac

A 500 KeV one-ampere Cs+1 ion beam has been generated by contact ionization with a 30 cm dia. iridium hot plate. Reproducibility of space charge limited ion current wave forms at repetition rates up to 1 Hz has been verified. The beam is characterized to be very bright and suitable as an ion source for the induction linac based heavy ion fusion scheme. The hot anode plate was found to be reliable and self-cleaning during the operation.