134 sample multi-cathode source of negative ions by cesium sputtering (134 MC-SNICS)

A high-intensity cesium sputter negative ion source has been designed for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). The source was developed for use in high-precision AMS as well as high-throughput AMS, with cathode change times of 2 seconds and typical beam current rise times of 3 seconds. The 134 MC-SNICS holds 134 samples in vacuum at one time. A wheel change and resumption of data acquisition takes 45 minutes or less. Wheel change is convenient and rapid. Mass analyzed {sup 12}C currents of over 100 {mu}A are typical. The 134 MC-SNICS source has been delivered with a 5 MV Pelletron AMS System to CBAMS, Ltd., York, England, and acceptance tests have been completed. AMS performance data follows a description of the source.