Discharge dependence on a hollow cathode ion source parameters

A systematic study of the discharge characteristics of a hollow cathode ion source is carried out for optimum and economic utilization. The characteristics are described through the measurement of the corresponding change in the extracted beam. The range of plasma, ion beam density, and beam uniformity are determined for various operating parameters; filament heating current, discharge current and voltage, compensating magnetic field, pressure, and the extraction distance and voltage. A larger ion current is obtained at higher compensating magnetic field, when shorter extracting gap and normal extracting voltage are used. The rate of emission necessary to maintain the discharge, strongly depends on the external field. The discharge range and hence ion current as well as pressure depends on discharge voltage