Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

Low energy proton beam characterization via a Slit-Scanner

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Tayebeh Rahmanabadi 1
Hamid Jafari 1
Masoomeh Yarmohammadi Satri 2
Shahin Sanaye Hajari 2

1 Department of Radiation Application, Faculty of Nuclear Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, P.O. Box 19839-69411, Tehran, Iran

2 Physic and Accelerators Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, P.O. Box 14395-836, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2026.596391.1421
Abstract
Accurate measurement of beam current and transverse profile is critical for the development and optimization of low-energy ion beam systems. In this study, a comprehensive beam diagnostic setup integrating a Faraday cup, a slit-Scanner, and a secondary electron monitor (SEM) grid was designed and evaluated via MCNP simulations. Parametric studies were conducted to assess the influence of collector material and cone angle on Faraday cup performance, complemented by thermal analyses under realistic beam irradiation conditions. Simulation results indicated that variations in material and cone angle produced only marginal differences in collected current, suggesting comparable charge collection efficiency across configurations. Accordingly, the final design was guided by a multi-criteria framework encompassing electrical performance, thermal response, manufacturability, mechanical stability, weight, and cost. An aluminum collector with a 60° cone angle was selected as optimal, offering a balanced trade-off between performance and engineering practicality. Thermal simulations revealed peak temperatures in the conical region, underscoring the need for integrated cooling. Beam profile reconstruction using both the SEM grid and the slit-scanner yielded Gaussian distributions with full width at half maximum (FWHM) values of 76.7 mm and 68.7 mm, respectively. The narrower profile obtained from the slit-scanner reflects its superior spatial resolution, while the overall consistency between the two techniques confirms robust beam characterization. These findings validate the proposed diagnostic system as a reliable tool for current and profile measurements, providing a practical

Highlights

  • Integrated beam diagnostic system designed for low-energy proton beams from ECR ion source.
  • Faraday cup optimized using MCNPX simulations and COMSOL thermal analysis.
  • Aluminum collector with 60◦ cone angle provides balance of performance and manufacturability.
  • Helical cooling channel effectively removes heat from the conical collector region.
  • Both SEM grid and slit scanner techniques yield Gaussian profiles with R2> 0.99.

Keywords

Ion beam diagnostic
Faraday cup
Slit-Scanner
Secondary electron monitor grid
MCNP simulation
Low-energy accelerator
ECR ion source
Subjects

Copyright
RPE is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no potential conflict of interest regarding the publication of this work‎.

Funding
‎The authors declare that no funds‎, ‎grants‎, ‎or other financial support were received during the preparation of this manuscript‎.

Radiation Physics and Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 24 September 2026

  • Receive Date 09 August 2026
  • Revise Date 20 September 2026
  • Accept Date 23 September 2026

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