EBIS sources are the most powerful sources of ions with the highest charge states up to fully stripped ions. The basic idea of an EBIS is to generate a dense energetic electron beam by magnetic beam compression. The magnetic field can be produced by superconducting coils or by room-temperature permanent magnets. Atoms injected into the electron beam are ionized by successive electron impacts. The ions are extracted by switching the potentials of an electric trap. The time characteristics of the extracted ion pulses depends on the parameters of the pulsed extraction field along the z-axis of the trap. EBIS sources are usually operated at low residual gas pressures down to 10^-10 mbar and at electron energies high enough to produce ions of almost all charge states. EBIS devices are reliable for injection into different accelerators and for a wide field of applications.

Three generations of highly-innovative room temperature EBIS/EBIT ion sources of highly charged ions have been developed by DREEBIT GmbH Dresden science 1999 (i.e. the Dresden EBIT, Dresden EBIS and Dresden EBIS-A in order of increasing extractable current). A new class of high-current ion sources, the so-called Dresden EBIS-SC, is now available, too.

Room Temperature Ion Sources

The source design based on permanent magnets is unique in the world and results in very compact devices. Thus, they are  portable, simple to operate, and both initial and maintenance costs are small.

The EBIS/T can be feed with gaseous elements trough a precision leak valve, but  also by metals using a MIVOC system or  an external metal injection system (e.g. Liquid Metal Ion Source).