An atomic oxygen device based on PIG oxygen negative ion source

It is an important research subject for the spaceflight countries to conduct equivalent simulation of 5eV atomic oxygen effects for the spaceflight material in low earth orbit. This paper introduces an apparatus used for producing atomic oxygen, which consists of a PIG ion source with permanent magnet, two electrodes extraction system, an electron deflector, an einzel lens, an ion decelerating electrode and a sample bracket. At present it has been used on the small debris accelerator in the Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the producing experiments of O- are carried out. 200-300 mu A of O- ions are extracted at the extraction voltage of 2-3kV. The experiments for decelerating of O- ions and erosion of kapton foil are carried out also. Because of the target room used for both the atomic oxygen device and the small debris accelerator, the facility can be used for small debris impinging and atomic erosion for spaceflight materials simultaneouslly.Physics, NuclearPhysics, Particles & FieldsSCI(E)0298-3003