Abstract
An ion source is described in which a metal vapor vacuum arc is used to create the plasma from which the ions are extracted. Beams of a variety of ions have been produced, ranging from lithium up to uranium. At an extraction voltage of 25 kV we've measured an ion beam current of over 1 Ampere, with over 550 ema of the beam in an emittance of 0.07 π cm. mradians (normalized). The ion charge state distribution varies with cathode material and with arc power; for uranium a typical distribution is peaked at U5+, with up to 40% of the beam current in this charge state.

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