INTENSE H - SOURCE FOR THE IPNS-I RAPID CYCLING SYNCHROTRON.

Increases in the intensity of the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS-I) at Argonne National Laboratory will eventually require that the present H** minus ion source be replaced with a higher current source. Laboratory studies of a Penning H** minus ion source for this purpose have been carried out. The source design is essentially due to Allison. The source has operated continuously for more than a week at 15 Hz with 45 mA of H** minus current during the 80 mu s pulse. For shorter periods, it has delivered the same current at 30 Hz with 45 mu s pulses. At present, two technical problems prevent the source from being operational. It is not adequately realiable, and the beam emittance at 20 keV is larger than expected.