Universal main magnetic focus ion source: A new tool for laboratory research of astrophysics and Tokamak microplasma

A novel room-temperature ion source for the production of atomic ions in electron beam within wide ranges of electron energy and current density is developed. The device can operate both as conventional Electron Beam Ion Source/Trap (EBIS/T) and novel Main Magnetic Focus Ion Source. The ion source is suitable for generation of the low-, medium- and high-density microplasma in steady state, which can be employed for investigation of a wide range of physical problems in ordinary university laboratory, in particular, for microplasma simulations relevant to astrophysics and ITER reactor. For the electron beam characterized by the incident energy E_e = 10 keV, the current density j_e ∼ 20 kA/cm² and the number density n_e ∼ 2 × 10¹³ cm⁻³ were achieved experimentally. For E_e ∼ 60 keV, the value of electron number density n_e ∼ 10¹⁴ cm⁻³ is feasible. The efficiency of the novel ion source for laboratory astrophysics significantly exceeds that of other existing warm and superconducting EBITs. (paper)