Operating Experience with an Ion Source in a Superconducting Cyclotron

We have developed a PIG ion source for axial insertion in the K500 cyclotron. The operation of the ion source has been limited to the requirements demanded by the operation of the cyclotron. These requirements have been for moderate charge state light heavy ions, of principally carbon, nitrogen and neon. The source design is more than adequate for moderate charge states with lifetimes of 8-12 hours for carbon and in excess of 15 hours for nitrogen and neon. We are now just starting to push the source to produce high charge states, and we have not yet established whether this source design will be adequate.