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Experimental results on the development of a laser ion source (LIS) are reported. LISs are particularly useful in ion accelerators, ion implanters and devices for electromagnetic isotope separation. A focused UV laser beam (0.1 - 1 GW/cm2 power density) was used to produce a plasma plume from a Cu target. Several aspects were investigated: ion angular distribution, energy distribution, ion extraction and charge loss due to ion recombination. Particular attention was devoted to avoid arcs during the extraction phase; it was accomplished by allowing the proper plasma expansion in a suitable chamber before the extraction gap. Diagnostics on free expanding plasma and extracted ions was carried out mainly by time-of-flight measurements, performed by means of Faraday cups and electrostatic spectrometers. At 18kV acceleration voltage, the ion beam current, measured along a drift tube at 147cm from the target, resulted modulated on ion mass-to-charge ratio and its maximum value was 220uA. The Cu+1 ion bunch charge was estimated to be 4.2nC. Ion implantation tests were successfully performed at high acceleration voltage (several tens kV), by using a simple experimental arrangement.
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