Discoloration of RF antenna coil surface after long-term operation of J-PARC ion source

Shibata, Takanori*; Shinto, Katsuhiro   ; Nammo, Kesao*; Okoshi, Kiyonori ; Ikegami, Kiyoshi*; Oguri, Hidetomo  ; Ishida, Masaki*; Wada, Motoi*

From Nov. 2020 to Apr. 2021, the continuous ion source operation for 3,651 hours (5 months) was achieved. As the lifetime of the RF ion source is mainly limited by failure on the enamel coating of the RF antenna, detailed evaluation of the antenna surface is required to ensure feasibility of the further extension of the operation time. In the present study, surface discoloration on the RF antenna coil observed after the 5 months operation is investigated by application of digital microscope and SEM/EDS analyses. The material mapping and the line spectrum obtained by the EDS analysis show that depositions of the sputtered source chamber wall materials and the injected cesium on to the enamel coating are the most possible candidate for the discoloration. The dimension measurements of the RF antenna thickness before and after the long-term operation support the idea that the discoloration is due to the deposited materials and hence insulation of the RF antenna coil by enamel coating is maintained. The emittance measurement after the operation also shows that the RF plasma and the beam formations are not affected by the deposition on the antenna.