Broadband frequency ECR ion source concepts with large resonant plasma volumes

New techniques are proposed for enhancing the performances of ECR ion sources. The techniques are based on the use of high-power, variable-frequency, multiple-discrete-frequency, or broadband microwave radiation. derived ii om standard TWT technology, to effect large resonant ''volume'' ECR sources. The creation oi a large ECR plasma ''volume'' permits coupling of mon power into the plasma, resulting in the heating of a much larger electron population to higher energies. the effect of which is to produce higher charge state distributions and much higher intensities within a particular charge state than possible in present forms of the ECR ion source. If successful, these developments could significantly impact future accelerator designs and accelerator-based, heavy ion-research programs by providing multiply-charged ion beams with the energies and intensities required for nuclear physics research from existing ECR ion sources. The methods described in this article can be used to retrofit any ECR ion source predicted on B-minimum plasma confinement techniques.