Electron Cyclotron Resonance Supernanogan Ion Source Commissioning Preparation for the Sarajevo Ion Accelerator (SARAI)
The Sarajevo ion accelerator (SARAI) benefits from the successful transfer of the CERN’s 750 MHz radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) technology, adapted for societal and medical applications. SARAI incorporates an industrial electron cyclotron resonance supernanogan ion source operating at 14.5 GHz, designed to generate alpha particles and ions that can be used for ion beam analysis and experimental and applied physics research. The system is equipped with a 4-electrode extraction subsystem capable of extracting and focusing multiple ion species at voltages up to 30 kV. The source is being optimized at CERN for injection into a 750 MHz RFQ, initially with protons, followed by helium and carbon ions. This paper reports on the progress of a novel idea of integrating a supernanogan ECR ion source with the RFQ to get higher currents than currently achievable in the emerging domain of compact linacs for societal applications. The project is in its infancy, so this paper focuses on the source commissioning preparation, reports on the initial high voltage holding tests on the source extraction system in vacuum, and discusses further plans and applications.