Results of the first 2-Stage diode experiments on PBFA II

A series of experiments have been performed on the PBFA II accelerator in a 2-Stage diode configuration. These experiments have demonstrated the generation and post acceleration of both proton and lithium beams. The second stage was also used to measure the ion current injected from the first stage. The ion current was found to be larger than the inferred current from Faraday cup measurements as is seen in single stage experiments. This result suggests that the current difference (known as the parasitic load) is carried by ions. A straightforward modification to the poor magnetic field geometry in the second stage is shown to improve transport to the axis.