Patent ID: 7102139

Claim:
A source arc chamber for an ion implanter, comprising: a conductive end wall at a repeller end of the source arc chamber, the end wall having a central portion surrounding an opening; an insulator mounted directly to an outer surface of the end wall, the insulator having a central portion at the opening of the end wall; and a conductive repeller having a narrow shaft and a broad body, the shaft being secured to the central portion of the insulator and extending through the opening of the end wall, the body being disposed within the source arc chamber adjacent to the end wall, wherein the central portion of the end wall, the insulator and the repeller are mutually configured such that a continuous vacuum gap exists between the central portion of the end wall and (i) an adjacent surface of the body of the repeller, (ii) an adjacent surface of the shaft of the repeller, and (iii) an adjacent surface of the central portion of the insulator.