Off-line emittance measurements of the SPES ion source at LNL

In the framework of the SPES Radioactive Beam Facility of INFN, a dedicated Ion Source R&D program has recently been started at the Legnaro Laboratory. The main goal is to study and improve its quality. The measurements of transverse phase space distributions of the ions produced in the target complex are of great importance for every ISOL based facility like for example SPES. In particular the phase space distribution becomes essential for the determination of simulation parameters and hence for the mass separation, the injection into traps and breeders, calculation of transport losses, etc. For these reasons a new beam emittance analyzer device, developed at the Legnaro laboratories, has recently been coupled with an off-line target front-end. The experimental measurements on the SPES surface ion source, using three different stable ion beams (Rb, Cs, Al), and their analysis, are presented here. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.