Permanent magnet plasma lens

We have designed and fabricated, for the first time, a simple, compact, and low-cost electrostatic plasma lens based on the use of permanent magnets rather than an electrically driven solenoid to establish the magnetic field. Characteristics of the focused ion beam passed through the lens have been measured. Some of the beam characteristics depend strongly on the applied magnetic field strength and the precise form of the external potential distribution applied along the lens electrodes. The experimental results obtained at the Institute of Physics (Kiev) and at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley) show that this plasma optical device can be used beneficially for focusing and manipulating moderate energy, large area, heavy metal ion beams.