Microwave-accessibility conditions estimated by plasma parameters obtained experimentally on electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

We insert two probes in the upstream and the downstream regions with respect to the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) zone which is formed at the center of mirror fields. We measure simultaneously plasma parameters in those regions by each of them under the same operating condition. We measure ion saturation currents Iis and electron energy distribution functions at two positions. We obtain measurement results that suggest the more efficient ECR on the side closer to the microwave-launchings than those on the other side. It is consistent with the accessibility condition of the right-hand polarization wave. We also compare the charge state distributions of Ar ion beams extracted in the case of launching microwaves from the coaxial semi-dipole antenna and those from the rod antenna. We observe the higher multicharged ion beam currents at the low microwave powers in the case of the rod antenna than those in the case of the coaxial semi-dipole antenna. We also confirm stable increasements of ion beam currents at considerably high microwave powers in the case of the coaxial semi-dipole antenna. Based on the experimental results, we propose a new microwave-launching method, "dual-ECR heating" and report its preferable preliminary experimental results in this paper.

Coaxial semi-dipole antenna microwave feeding on electron cyclotron resonance multicharged ion source.

How to produce multicharged ions efficiently on an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) has been investigated at Osaka University. Notably, in recent years, we have focused on heating by new resonance superimposing to electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma. To evaluate its efficiency, we need to know the maximum efficiency of heating with ECR alone, and then, further optimization of ECR heating is required. In consideration of wave propagation, we installed the coaxial semi-dipole antenna on the mirror end along the geometrical axis of the vacuum chamber. We aim at exciting the strength of right-hand polarization (RHP) waves for efficient ECR because RHP waves give rise to ECR. We measure plasma parameters by Langmuir probes and charge state distributions (CSDs) of the extracted ion beams and investigate their qualitative tendencies to incident microwave powers and pressures. We compare the qualitative trend of ion beams and their CSD on microwave power in the case of both the microwave feeding system by the coaxial semi-dipole antenna and that by the rod antenna. Differences between the microwave feeding system before improving and then after upgrading are made clear.

Improving transport and optimizing deceleration of ion beams from electron cyclotron resonance multicharged ion sources.

Electron cyclotron resonance ion sources (ECRISs) are widely applied for ion beam applications, e.g., plasma processing, cancer therapy, and ion engine of an artificial satellite. In our ECRIS, we aim at producing and extracting various ion beams from this device, in particular, Xeq+ ion beams at low energy. In the aerospace engineering field, there are problems of accumulated damages on various component materials caused by low energy of Xe ions from the engine. There are not enough experimental sputtering data for satellite materials at the Xeq+ in the low energy region. Then, we are trying to investigate the sputtering yield experimentally by irradiating the low energy Xe ion beams. To perform this experiment, it is necessary to acquire a certain amount of beam current with low energy. Then, we generate the low energy ion beams by the following steps: First, the ion beams are extracted from the ECRIS at high voltage. Next, these are transported to an ion beam irradiation system (IBIS). Finally, the ion beams are decelerated by the deceleration voltage in the IBIS. We adjusted the beamline. We measure the characteristics of the transport efficiency and decelerated ion beam currents. In this paper, we describe the experimental setup using an existing ECRIS for decelerated heavy ion beams and the results of decelerated ion beam currents.

Upper hybrid resonance heating experiments by X-mode microwaves on electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

We have considered the accessibility condition of electromagnetic and electrostatic waves propagating in an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source (ECRIS) plasma and then investigated experimentally their correspondence relationships with production of multicharged ions. It has been clarified that there exists an efficient configuration of ECR zones for producing multicharged ion beams and has been suggested that a new resonance, i.e., upper hybrid resonance (UHR), must have occurred. We have been trying to perform advanced experiments with 4-6 GHz X-mode microwaves to the 2.45 GHz ECRIS plasma, and we have succeeded in enhancing the production of multicharged ions by launching X-mode microwaves of these bands. Furthermore, at the same time, we have observed sharp increases in electron energy distribution functions in the ECRIS plasma by means of probe methods. It has been concluded that the UHRs must have occurred when applying multiplex microwaves with their frequencies away from those frequencies for ECR in the ECRIS. In this paper, we will describe in brief the theoretical background and the results of these new experiments.

Improving multipole magnets and background vacuum conditions on electron cyclotron resonance ion sources.

Electron cyclotron resonance ion sources (ECRISs) are used in various fields such as accelerator physics, engineering, cancer therapy, and ion engines in the satellite. We are aiming to improve the production of multicharged ions efficiently at the point of view from the length of multipole magnets and vacuum conditions in the ECRIS. The diameter of the connection pipe between the main chamber and diffusion pump was made larger to improve vacuum conductance. Moreover, the length of multipole magnets with the direction along the geometrical axis in the ECRIS was extended. The effects of these improvements are investigated experimentally to measure the pressure in the vacuum chamber, beam intensity, charge state distributions of extracted ion beams, and plasma parameters. The purity of extracted ion beams and magnetic confinement have been enhanced. These results are expected to have positive effects on the production of various species and synthesized ion beams, e.g., production of iron endohedral fullerene in the future experiments in the ECRIS.

Development of 1.2-GHz ECR ion source and Wien filter for inexpensive ion beam processing system.

A desktop-sized ion beam processing system with an inexpensive electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source has been developed for industrial applications at the National Institute of Technology, Toyama College. A commercially available 1.2- to 1.3-GHz transceiver is adopted as a microwave source to generate the ECR plasma. The minimum-B magnetic field is formed by arranging small rectangular permanent magnets. A Wien filter with orthogonal electric and magnetic fields is employed as a beam separator. At the end of the beam line, a processing chamber with a substrate stage for ion beam applications, such as ion implantation and microfabrication, is installed. Here, we report the results of the first experiment. Ar ion beams with a current of approximately 62 µA were obtained at an extraction voltage of 4 kV. In addition, we demonstrate that Ar and Xe ions can be separated by the Wien filter.

Effects of fundamental and second harmonic electron cyclotron resonances on ECRIS.

A new concept on magnetic field of plasma production and confinement has been proposed to enhance efficiency of an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma for broad and dense ion beam source under the low pressure. The magnetic field configuration is constructed by a pair of comb-shaped magnet which has opposite polarity to each other, and which cylindrically surrounds the plasma chamber. This magnetic configuration suppresses the loss due to E x B drift, and then plasma confinement is enhanced. The profiles of the electron temperature and density are measured around the ECR zones of the fundamentals and the second harmonics for 2.45 GHz and 11-13 GHz microwaves by using Langmuir probe. Their characteristics and effects are clarified under various operating conditions in both of simple multipole and comb-shaped magnetic configurations.

Multicharged iron ions produced by using induction heating vapor source.

Multiply charged Fe ions are produced from solid pure material in an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source. We develop an evaporator by using induction heating with an induction coil which is made of bare molybdenum wire partially covered by ceramic beads in vacuum and surrounding and heating directly the pure Fe rod. Heated material has no contact with insulators, so that outgas is minimized. The evaporator is installed around the mirror end plate outside of the ECR plasma with its hole grazing the ECR zone. Helium or argon gas is usually chosen for supporting gas. The multicharged Fe ions up to Fe(13+) are extracted from the opposite side of mirror and against the evaporator, and then multicharged Fe ion beam is formed. We compare production of multicharged iron ions by using this new source with our previous methods.

Hydrated thymine cluster in the supersonic gas jet.

Fragmentation of hydrated thymine clusters in the gas phase induced by UV laser pulse at 266 nm was studied by means of time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. Hydrated thymine clusters were produced by supersonic expansion in the gas jet in a high vacuum region. The range of laser intensity for ionisation of the gaseous targets was from 10(6) to 10(9) W cm(-2). In the condition of low laser intensity, the peaks corresponding to hydrated thymine clusters [(C(5)H(6)N(2)O(2))(m)(H(2)O)(n)] and large mass fragments from them were obtained mainly. In the laser intensity region from 10(7) to 10(8) W cm(-2), the fragment ions released from thymine such as HCNH(+), HNCO(+), CH(2)CCHNH(+), CH(3)CCHNH(+), C(3)H(4)O(+), etc. were mainly detected due to C-C and C-N bond breaks in a ring structure of thymine.

Experimental results of superimposing 9.9 GHz extraordinary mode microwaves on 2.45 GHz ECRIS plasma.

Efficient production of multicharged ions has been investigated on the tandem-type ECRIS in Osaka University. According to the consideration of the accessibility conditions of microwaves to resonance and cutoff regions, it was suggested that the upper hybrid resonance (UHR) heating contributed to enhancement of ion beam intensity. In order to enhance multicharged ion beams efficiently, injecting higher frequency microwave with extraordinary (X-mode) toward UHR region has been tried. In this study, 2.45 GHz frequency microwaves are used for conventional ECR discharge, and 9.9 GHz frequency microwaves with X-mode are superimposed for UHR heating. The effects of additive microwave injection are investigated experimentally in terms of plasma parameters and electron energy distribution function (EEDF) measured by Langmuir probe and ion beam current. As the results show, it is confirmed that the electrons in the high energy region are affected by 9.9 GHz X-mode microwave injection from the detailed analysis of EEDF.

Production of multicharged metal ion beams on the first stage of tandem-type ECRIS.

Multicharged metal ion beams are required to be applied in a wide range of fields. We aim at synthesizing iron-endohedral fullerene by transporting iron ion beams from the first stage into the fullerene plasma in the second stage of the tandem-type electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). We developed new evaporators by using a direct ohmic heating method and a radiation heating method from solid state pure metal materials. We investigate their properties in the test chamber and produce iron ions on the first stage of the tandem-type ECRIS. As a result, we were successful in extracting Fe(+) ion beams from the first stage and introducing Fe(+) ion beams to the second stage. We will try synthesizing iron-endohedral fullerene on the tandem-type ECRIS by using these evaporators.

First operation and effect of a new tandem-type ion source based on electron cyclotron resonance.

A new tandem type source has been constructed on the basis of electron cyclotron resonance plasma for producing synthesized ion beams in Osaka University. Magnetic field in the first stage consists of all permanent magnets, i.e., cylindrically comb shaped one, and that of the second stage consists of a pair of mirror coil, a supplemental coil and the octupole magnets. Both stage plasmas can be individually operated, and produced ions in which is energy controlled by large bore extractor also can be transported from the first to the second stage. We investigate the basic operation and effects of the tandem type electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). Analysis of ion beams and investigation of plasma parameters are conducted on produced plasmas in dual plasmas operation as well as each single operation. We describe construction and initial experimental results of the new tandem type ion source based on ECRIS with wide operation window for aiming at producing synthesized ion beams as this new source can be a universal source in future.

Accessibility condition of wave propagation and multicharged ion production in electron cyclotron resonance ion source plasma.

A new tandem type source of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasmas has been constructing for producing synthesized ion beams in Osaka University. Magnetic mirror field configuration with octupole magnets can be controlled to various shape of ECR zones, namely, in the 2nd stage plasma to be available by a pair mirror and a supplemental coil. Noteworthy correlations between these magnetic configurations and production of multicharged ions are investigated in detail, as well as their optimum conditions. We have been considering accessibility condition of electromagnetic and electrostatic waves propagating in ECR ion source plasma, and then investigated their correspondence relationships with production of multicharged ions. It has been clarified that there exits efficient configuration of ECR zones for producing multicharged ion beams experimentally, and then has been suggested from detail accessibility conditions on the ECR plasma that new resonance, i.e., upper hybrid resonance, must have occurred.

Producing multicharged fullerene ion beam extracted from the second stage of tandem-type ECRIS.

We have been constructing the tandem-type electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). Two ion sources of the tandem-type ECRIS are possible to generate plasma individually, and they also confined individual ion species by each different plasma parameter. Hence, it is considered to be suitable for new materials production. As the first step, we try to produce and extract multicharged C60 ions by supplying pure C60 vapor in the second stage plasma because our main target is producing the endohedral fullerenes. We developed a new evaporator to supply fullerene vapor, and we succeeded in observation about multicharged C60 ion beam in tandem-type ECRIS for the first time.

Electron energy distribution function by using probe method in electron cyclotron resonance multicharged ion source.

We are constructing a tandem type electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source (ECRIS). High-energy electrons in ECRIS plasma affect electron energy distribution and generate multicharged ion. In this study, we measure electron energy distribution function (EEDF) of low energy region (≦100 eV) in ECRIS plasma at extremely low pressures (10(-3)-10(-5) Pa) by using cylindrical Langmuir probe. From the result, it is found that the EEDF correlates with the electron density and the temperature from the conventional probe analysis. In addition, we confirm that the tail of EEDF spreads to high energy region as the pressure rises and that there are electrons with high energy in ECR multicharged ion source plasma. The effective temperature estimated from the experimentally obtained EEDF is larger than the electron temperature obtained from the conventional method.

Enhanced production of electron cyclotron resonance plasma by exciting selective microwave mode on a large-bore electron cyclotron resonance ion source with permanent magnet.

We are constructing a tandem type ECRIS. The first stage is large-bore with cylindrically comb-shaped magnet. We optimize the ion beam current and ion saturation current by a mobile plate tuner. They change by the position of the plate tuner for 2.45 GHz, 11-13 GHz, and multi-frequencies. The peak positions of them are close to the position where the microwave mode forms standing wave between the plate tuner and the extractor. The absorbed powers are estimated for each mode. We show a new guiding principle, which the number of efficient microwave mode should be selected to fit to that of multipole of the comb-shaped magnets. We obtained the excitation of the selective modes using new mobile plate tuner to enhance ECR efficiency.

Controlling precise magnetic field configuration around electron cyclotron resonance zone for enhancing plasma parameters and beam current.

Multi-charged ion source which has wide operating conditions is required in various application fields. We have constructed tandem type ECR ion source (ECRIS); one of the features of its main stage is an additional coil for controlling magnetic field distribution around the mirror bottom precisely. Here the effect of magnetic field variation caused by the additional coil is experimentally considered in terms of plasma parameters and beam current as the first investigation of the main stage plasma. Furthermore, behavior of magnetic lines of force flowing from the ECR zone is calculated, and is compared with measurement results aiming for better understanding of interrelationship between plasma production and ion beam generation on the ECRIS.

New tandem type ion source based on electron cyclotron resonance for universal source of synthesized ion beams.

A new tandem type source has been constructed on the basis of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma for producing synthesized ion beams. We investigate feasibility and hope to realize the device which has wide range operation window in a single device to produce many kinds of ion beams based on ECR ion source (ECRIS). It is considered that ECR plasmas are necessary to be available to individual operations with different plasma parameters. Both of analysis of ion beams and investigation of plasma parameters are conducted on produced plasmas. We describe construction of the new tandem type ion source based on ECRIS with wide operation window for aiming at producing synthesized ion beams as this new source can be a universal source.

Formation of multi-charged ion beams by focusing effect of mid-electrode on electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

We are constructing a tandem type electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) and a beam line for extracting ion beams. The ion beam is extracted from the second stage by an accel-decel extraction system with a single-hole and the ion beam current on each electrode is measured. The total ion beam current is measured by a faraday cup downstream the extraction electrodes. We measure these currents as a function of the mid-electrode potential. We also change the gap length between electrodes and perform similar measurement. The behaviors of these currents obtained experimentally against the mid-electrode potential show qualitatively good agreement with a simple theoretical consideration including sheath potential effects. The effect of mid-electrode potential is very useful for decreasing the beam loss for enhancing ion beam current extracted from ECRIS.

Insulinogenic sucrose+amino acid mixture ingestion immediately after resistance exercise has an anabolic effect on bone compared with non-insulinogenic fructose+amino acid mixture in growing rats.

Maximizing peak bone mass is an important factor in osteoporosis prevention. Resistance exercise increases bone mass and strength, while nutritional supplements have beneficial effects on bone loss reduction. We have previously shown that the combined intake of sucrose and amino acids (AA), which is strongly insulinogenic, efficiently increased muscle protein synthesis. To investigate the effects of sugar and an AA solution immediately after resistance exercise, we compared insulinogenic sucrose and non-insulinogenic fructose combined with an AA solution with or without resistance exercise. Sucrose intake immediately after resistance exercise increased the trabecular bone mass and compressive maximum load compared with fructose+AA intake after exercise. Additionally, combined sucrose+AA and exercise increased trabecular bone formation and decreased bone resorption more than combined fructose and exercise. Serum insulin levels were greatly increased by sucrose+AA intake with exercise. In culture experiments, neither sugar+AA affected osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation. In a gene expression study, sucrose+AA intake after resistance exercise was shown to upregulate the Runx2 expression level and decrease RANKL/OPG ratio. These results suggest that the combined intake of sucrose and an AA solution immediately after resistance exercise exerts anabolic effects on bone by altering gene expression related to bone remodeling. Although translation of our bone remodeling findings from animal to human studies has been challenging, our findings suggest that exercise with sugar+AA intake may contribute to improved bone health.