High intensity surface ion source towards long-term irradiations for ISOL@MYRRHA

The MYRRHA project is set to become the world’s first subcritical lead-bismuth cooled reactor driven by a linear particle accelerator, with part of its beam directed to the ISOL facility for radioactive ion beam production. My research focuses on developing and optimising a surface ion source for ISOL@MYRRHA, a key component for ensuring efficient ionisation under the challenging conditions of high-energy proton beams. I have investigated surface ionisation principles, including material interactions and plasma sheath effects, with a focus on improving the heating system using Ohmic heating and an innovative active thermal screen to mitigate cold spots. Different designs were explored, leading to the successful construction and testing of a prototype at CERN. The presentation will summarise the findings on ionisation efficiency, the prototype's durability, and its implications for future advancements at ISOL@MYRRHA, contributing to the development of next-generation ion sources for high-power ISOL facilities.