Electron String Ion Sources (ESIS) Electronics Development

Electron String Ion Source (ESIS) is a type of ion source, which is under development since 1994 [1], when the electron string phenomenon was first observed at VBLHEP JINR. ESIS is a sophisticated modification of Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) working in a reflex mode of operation under specific conditions, when emitted electrons are multiply used for electron impact ionization, being transformed to a new steady state of a hot magnetically compressed plasma, called an “electron string”. ESIS is a complex facility consisting of several systems: the superconducting solenoid, the cryogenic and vacuum systems, the electron gun, the electron reflector, the beam drift structure, the locking system, etc. To ensure the operation of these systems a special electronics and control systems developed by the engineers of the ESIS group are used. The article describes electron string ion sources measurement and control electronics and basic principles of their work.