Development of microwave feeding system for high current ion source

Microwave ion source producing multi milliamperes of proton beam is currently operational at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre. The main aim of this development is to understand and establish the key issues in high current beam generation, transport and its characterization for matching to a compact cyclotron. This ion source is excited through a 2.45 GHz magnetron. Its delivery system consists of a dual directional coupler, four stub auto tuner and a double ridged waveguide impedance transformer for efficient coupling of microwave power to the plasma. This paper describes the operating experience of different high power microwave components installed in the microwave feeding system of the ion source together with the simulation and experimental results of double ridged waveguide coupler for the ion source.