Progress in the operation of a high intensity EBIS at BNL

Excellent progress has been made in the operation of the BNL Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS), which is a prototype for an EBIS that could meet requirements for a RHIC preinjector. We have achieved very stable operation of the electron beam at 10 A through the EBIS trap. At 7 A electron beam current, 2.8/spl times/10/sup 11/ charges have been extracted in short pulses from ionization of residual gas, exceeding our goal for yield for the corresponding trap capacity. With Au injection, we have achieved 25% of the RHIC intensity requirement with only 4 A electron current, and half the final trap length.