Preliminary report on the MBE-4, an experimental multiple-beam induction linear accelerator for heavy ions

A small-scale experimental accelerator called MBE-4 has been constructed to demonstrate the principle of a current-amplifying induction linac for multiple beams of heavy ions. Four beams of Cs1+, initially at 200 keV and each with a current of 10 mA have been accelerated and amplified to a kinetic energy of 700 keV and currents of 90 mA apiece. Transverse focusing is achieved by means of electrostatic quadrupoles; longitudinally the current is amplified and the beam bunch is held together against the space charge forces by special time-dependent accelerating fields. We report on the methods developed for designing and implementing the accelerating pulses and on measurements of the transverse and longitudinal emittance of the accelerated beams. Current fluctuations and the longitudinal emittance are initially almost zero and increase as acceleration errors are accumulated. We discuss the final longitudinal emittance and the current fluctuations in the experiment in terms of their acceptability for a large heavy-ion-fusion driver. 17 refs., 23 figs., 3 tabs