Examination of the Plasma located in PSI Ring Cyclotron

TL;DR

This study investigates the plasma inside the PSI Ring Cyclotron, linking its formation and intensity to the Flat Top Cavity voltage, and analyzes its composition to understand its impact on cyclotron components.

Contribution

The paper provides the first spectroscopic analysis of the plasma in the PSI Ring Cyclotron, correlating plasma characteristics with operational voltage and interior composition.

Findings

Plasma intensity correlates with Flat Top Cavity voltage.

Plasma composition matches the cyclotron's vacuum interior elements.

Spectroscopy confirms plasma's role in component degradation.

Abstract

A plasma has been observed inside the vacuum chamber of the PSI Ring Cyclotron. This ionized gas cloud maybe a substantial contributor to several interior components having reduced lifetimes. The plasma's generation has been directly linked to the voltage that is applied to the Flat Top Cavity through visual confirmation using CCD cameras. A spectrometer was used to correlate the plasma's intensity and ignition to the Flat Top Cavity voltage as well as to determine the composition of the plasma. This paper reports on the analysis of the plasma using spectroscopy. The spectrometer data was analyzed to determine the composition of the plasma and that the plasma intensity (luminosity) directly corresponds to the Flat Top voltage. The results showed that the plasma was comprised of elements consistent with the cyclotrons vacuum interior