ECR ion sources at HIRFL

There are two Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion sources in operation at the axial injection beam line of HIRFL (Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou). In most cases, the IMP 14.5 GHz ECR ion source is operated for the cyclotron to achieve intense beams. Intense beams of highly charged gaseous and metallic ions could be produced by the ECR ion source. A particular emphasis has been focused on the production of metallic ion beams recently. Metallic ion beams of Ca, Mg, Fe, Ni and Pb were tested with the IMP 14.5 GHz ECR ion source to improve beam intensities and long-term stability considering cyclotron operation. The stable beams of 60 emuA of Mg-24(7+) 130 emuA of Ca-40(11+), 45 emuA of Fe-56(11+), 25 emuA of Ni-58(10+) and 17 emuA of Pb27+ were successfully produced. A new ECR ion source, an upgraded version of the IMP 14.5 GHz ECR ion source but with double rf frequency heating (10GHz + 14.5 GHz), is under commissioning. To satisfy the requirements of the heavy ion cooling storage ring which is under construction at Lanzhou, a fully superconducting ECR ion source is being developed for production of intense heavy ion beams of very high charge states, such as Xe30+ and U40+.