Patent ID: 6583429
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: H01J,H05H

Abstract:
An ion buncher for grouping ions along a path between an ion beam accelerator entrance and a first accelerating module entrance, the buncher comprising:a buncher electrode located along the path and operatively associated with a buncher energy source and adapted to create a modulating electric field along a portion of the path to provide bunched ions to an accelerating module along the path; and first and second grounded electrodes, wherein the first grounded electrode is spaced along the path from the buncher electrode toward the ion beam accelerator entrance so as to define a first gap therebetween, and wherein the second grounded electrode is spaced along the path from the buncher electrode toward the accelerating module so as to define a second gap therebetween, wherein the first and second gaps are different lengths.