First investigations of a warm electron beam ion trap for the production of highly charged ions

A compact warm electron beam ion trap (WEBIT) is described and investigated experimentally. The trap design is based on permanent magnets, an electron gun with a cathode emissivity of 25 A/cm(2) and a gun perveance of 0.1 mu A/V-3/2 as well as a vacuum vessel allowing trap operation at pressures of 10(-10) Torr. The electron beam diameter measured with a pinhole camera was 160 mu m corresponding to an electron beam density of 248 A cm(-2). X-ray spectra measured with a Si(Li) semiconductor detector indicate the production of Xe44+ and Ir59+ (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)01006-0].