Caesiated H- source operation with helium

The consumption rate of cesium (Cs) for negative hydrogen (H-) ion source increases when the source operation gas is changed from hydrogen to deuterium. There was observed a clear indication that a deuterium discharge erodes Cs atoms on the plasma grid (PG) surface to increase work function and the co-extracted electron current. We have proposed a model, that the enhanced sputtering yield of Cs from the PG due to deuterium ions, which carries more kinetic energy to Cs adsorbed on the surface directly or indirectly, is the main reason for this fast dissipation of Cs. Introduction of helium (He) into discharge can verify the enhanced sputtering effect due to the lager mass ions in the source discharge. Comparing the effect due to seeded Cs before and after the He injection into discharge through Cs OES signals as well as the H- density measured with cavity ring-down method, the sputtering/evaporation enhancement due to He is estimated. Neutral atoms and positive ions in the He discharge should cause enhanced sputtering like deuterium, while the system does not generate neutron under the induction of acceleration voltage to diagnose the extracted negative ion beam. Plasma parameters of the H2 and He plasmas are investigated by diagnostics tools installed on NIFS-RNIS (National Institute for Fusion Science, Research and development Negative Ion Source) together with H- density measurement by cavity ring down. Enhanced consumption rate of Cs is compared with proposed sputtering yield data to predict the rate for deuterium operation of negative ion sources.