Electron Gun Control System for Electron String Ion Sources

Electron impact is the main process responsible for the ionization of atoms to high charge states in Electron beam/string ion sources. Corresponding energy electron beam, compressed in an external strong magnetic field (up to 6 Tesla), is produced by an electron gun. As its key element the electron gun contains a thermionic electron emitter made of IrCe. Electron string ion source KRION-6T designed and created in LHEP JINR as the prototype of a heavy ion source for the NICA accelerator complex contains an electron gun with the cathode located at a high-voltage negative potential up to $\mathbf{- 1 0} \mathbf{~ k V}$. A feature of the electron gun control circuit is a number of factors, namely, the fact that the cathode assembly of the electron gun is located at a negative high-voltage potential and the need to accurately establish and measure the electron emission current. The article describes methods, circuits, electronic devices and the details of ESIS electron gun control system electronic devices.