In this article the work of the JYFL ion source group
will be presented. New bremsstrahlung measurements
were carried out in order to compare the results with
different electron heating models. Especially attention
was paid to study the effect of different heating
parameters on the evolution of bremsstrahlung energy. A
project to obtain new information about the ion
temperatures and their time evolution has been initiated.
The study will be performed using spectroscopic
techniques measuring the ion temperature from the
Doppler broadening of emission lines. The objective is to
obtain accurate information about the evolution and the
behaviour of highly charged ions in the ECRIS plasma.
The work of the JYFL ion source team also includes
frequency tuning experiments, beam quality experiments
and tests with a so-called collar structure mounted on the
plasma electrode. The beneficial effect of collar was first
tested and noticed with the ECR ion sources by the KVI
ion source group and has been shortly confirmed at JYFL.
The JYFL ion source group is also developing a low
power electron gun for the needs of spacecraft
applications. The results of the development work can
possibly be applied also with the ion sources in order to
increase the density of cold electrons.