The Legnaro ECR ion source

The Legnaro ECRIS ‘‘Alice’’ [Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 301, 9(1991)] is a small 14.4 GHz ion source that miniaturizes several features of bigger ones (first stage, differential pumping). During mechanical construction, nearly completed by now, several challenging tolerances were met. In particular, the critically stressed hexapole binding rings were tightly locked into their position; coils centering and insulation was finally accomplished. A source test stand (including microwave, main power, and water cooling apparatus) and the necessary software for controlling Alice via an economic G‐64 bus computer were developed.