Progress on MEVVA source VARIS at GSI.

For the last few years, the development of the VARIS (vacuum arc ion source) was concentrated on several aspects. One of them was the production of high current ion beams of heavy metals such as Au, Pb, and Bi. The requested ion charge state for these ion species is 4+. This is quite challenging to produce in vacuum arc driven sources for reasonable beam pulse length (>120 µs) due to the physical properties of these elements. However, the situation can be dramatically improved by using the composite materials or alloys with enhanced physical properties of the cathodes. Another aspect is an increase of the beam brilliance for intense U4+ beams by the optimization of the geometry of the extraction system. A new 7-hole triode extraction system allows an increase of the extraction voltage from 30 kV to 40 kV and also reduces the outer aperture of the extracted ion beam. Thus, a record beam brilliance for the U4+ beam in front of the RFQ (Radio-Frequency Quadrupole) has been achieved, exceeding the RFQ space charge limit for an ion current of 15 mA. Several new projectiles in the middle-heavy region have been successfully developed from VARIS to fulfill the requirements of the future FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) programs. An influence of an auxiliary gas on the production performance of certain ion charge states as well as on operation stability has been investigated. The optimization of the ion source parameters for a maximum production efficiency and highest particle current in front of the RFQ has been performed. The next important aspect of the development will be the increase of the operation repetition rate of VARIS for all elements especially for uranium to 2.7 Hz in order to provide the maximum availability of high current ion beams for future FAIR experiments.

Production of high current proton beams using complex H-rich molecules at GSI.

In this contribution, the concept of production of intense proton beams using molecular heavy ion beams from an ion source is described, as well as the indisputable advantages of this technique for operation of the GSI linear accelerator. The results of experimental investigations, including mass-spectra analysis and beam emittance measurements, with different ion beams (CH3(+),C2H4(+),C3H7(+)) using various gaseous and liquid substances (methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, and iodoethane) at the ion source are summarized. Further steps to improve the ion source and injector performance with molecular beams are depicted.

Investigation of ion beam space charge compensation with a 4-grid analyzer.

Experiments to investigate the space charge compensation of pulsed high-current heavy ion beams are performed at the GSI ion source text benches with a 4-grid analyzer provided by CEA/Saclay. The technical design of the 4-grid analyzer is revised to verify its functionality for measurements at pulsed high-current heavy ion beams. The experimental investigation of space charge compensation processes is needed to increase the performance and quality of current and future accelerator facilities. Measurements are performed directly downstream a triode extraction system mounted to a multi-cusp ion source at a high-current test bench as well as downstream the post-acceleration system of the high-current test injector (HOSTI) with ion energies up to 120 keV/u for helium and argon. At HOSTI, a cold or hot reflex discharge ion source is used to change the conditions for the measurements. The measurements were performed with helium, argon, and xenon and are presented. Results from measurements with single aperture extraction systems are shown.

Beam brilliance investigation of high current ion beams at GSI heavy ion accelerator facility.

In this work the emittance measurements of high current Ta-beam provided by VARIS (Vacuum Arc Ion Source) ion source are presented. Beam brilliance as a function of beam aperture at various extraction conditions is investigated. Influence of electrostatic ion beam compression in post acceleration gap on the beam quality is discussed. Use of different extraction systems (single aperture, 7 holes, and 13 holes) in order to achieve more peaked beam core is considered. The possible ways to increase the beam brilliance are discussed.

Development of high current Bi and Au beams for the synchrotron operation at the GSI accelerator facility.

In this work, the latest results of developing high current ion beams of Au and Bi at GSI facility are described. The difficulties in the production of required charge state in vacuum arc discharge ion sources using the pure materials in the cathodes are discussed. As a possible solution, admix of a small amount of more refractory metal to the cathode material is considered. As a significant result, a dramatic improvement in the production of high charge state Bi ions using the mixed Bi-Cu cathodes (with 8%-15% of Cu admixed) compared to pure Bi cathodes is presented. The preliminary results of investigation of the material structure of Bi-Cu cathodes are discussed. As a next step, it is planned to test the composition of Au with Pd, Zr, and Fe as cathode materials.

Measurements of transverse ion beam emittance generated by high current ion sources at the GSI test injector facility HOSTI.

The first emittance measurements with a new test injector facility (HOSTI) at GSI, designed for optimization of high current beam injection scheme, are discussed. The emittance of the ion beam (88 kV, Ar(1+) ions) was investigated as a function of various parameters related to the ion source, extraction, and postacceleration systems and the optimum parameters for future low energy beam transport line are concluded. The preliminary results of the emittance measurements with superconducting solenoid are presented. The influence of the focusing strength as well as the longitudinal field shape of the solenoid on the beam emittance is described.

[Complex rehabilitation of patients suffering of degenerative dystrophic joint disease with the application of minimally invasive keyhole surgery].

During the period of 2004-2009 in the 6th Central Military Clinical Hospital 343 arthroscopy were performed. Control set consisted of 128 patients who refused operative treatment or operative treatment couldn't be preformed because of contraindications. During the arthroscopy in 74% of cases old laceration of meniscus was diagnosed, in 18% infra-articular osteochondral fragments were eliminated, in 32% of cases arthroscopic synovectomy was preformed, in 10% of cases forage and mikrofrakturing of subchondral bone were performed, chondroplasty and sanitation of joint were done for every patient. Together with it, during the arthroscopy signs of synovitis were diagnosed. The results of treatment were estimated by the scale of Lysholm (1982) and by the scale IKDS (1995) in 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. In 75% the results were good and excellent.

[Methodological base of rehabilitation treatment of service men with consequences of limb injuries after mine wounds].

The article is devoted to solving questions of complex medical rehabilitation of military service men, became invalids owing to military trauma, participants of the armed local conflicts and controterror operations. Was formed a unitary organizational system of rehabilitation treatment and social adaptation of injured persons by optimization of prosthetic-orthopedic aid, as out-of-alternative method of rehabilitation of patients with amputating defects of limbs, caused by mine wounds. Were determined methods of explorations of patients, medical conditions to surgical and conservative preparation of stumps, criterions of preparedness of stumps and terms of beginnings of prosthesis, was introduced an algorithm of rehabilitation measures. All that has permitted to accelerate the process of rehabilitation, to raise quality of prosthetic-orthopedic aid, attain good functional results and, finally, to create conditions of promotion of health, rising of health quality of invalids and appropriation of psychological assurance and of independence.

Excimer laser pumped by an intense, high-energy heavy-ion beam.

High-energy heavy ions are an ideal tool to generate homogeneously excited, extended volumes of nonthermal plasmas. Here, the high-energy loss (dE/dx) and absolute power deposition of heavy ions interacting with matter has been used to pump an ultraviolet laser. A pulsed 70 MeV/u 238U beam with up to 2.5 x 10(9) particles in approximately 100 ns beam bunches was stopped in a 1.2 m long laser cell filled with a 1.6 bar Ar-Kr-F2 mixture (typically 50%:49.9%:0.1%). Laser effect on the 248 nm KrF* excimer transition is clearly demonstrated.