title: Microwave frequency sweep interferometer for plasma density measurements in ECR ion sources: Design and preliminary results.
abstract: The Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources (ECRISs) development is strictly related to the availability of new diagnostic tools, as the existing ones are not adequate to such compact machines and to their plasma characteristics. Microwave interferometry is a non-invasive method for plasma diagnostics and represents the best candidate for plasma density measurement in hostile environment. Interferometry in ECRISs is a challenging task mainly due to their compact size. The typical density of ECR plasmas is in the range 10(11)-10(13) cm(-3) and it needs a probing beam wavelength of the order of few centimetres, comparable to the chamber radius. The paper describes the design of a microwave interferometer developed at the LNS-INFN laboratories based on the so-called "frequency sweep" method to filter out the multipath contribution in the detected signals. The measurement technique and the preliminary results (calibration) obtained during the experimental tests will be presented.
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torrisi
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mascali
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sorbello
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Celona
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agnello
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Santi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Passarello
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Longhitano
authors.affiliation: University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isernia
authors.affiliation: INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gammino