Penning ion source discharge modes for pulsed and continuous power supplies

We have analyzed the pressure dependences of the discharge and extracted currents for a Penning ion source (PIS) for continuous and pulsed power supplies. We have investigated the effect of voltage amplitude at the PIS anode, pulse repetition rate, and pulse duration on PIS amplitude–time and current–voltage characteristics. The ion source operation regimes and corresponding gas pressure ranges in which different modes of Penning discharge are realized have been determined.