Experimental characterization of the AISHa ion source.

The Advanced Ion Source for Hadrontherapy (AISHa) has been designed to generate high brightness multiply charged ion beams for hadron therapy applications. AISHa is a compact electron cyclotron resonance ion source whose hybrid magnetic system consists of a permanent Halbach-type hexapole magnet and a set of independently energized superconducting coils. This has allowed us to achieve high performances in a cost effective way. During the commissioning phase, a few criticalities have been observed and fixed in 2018/19; the improvements will be briefly described and the results of the operations with a single 18 GHz generator will be presented. Particular relevance will be given to the production of high intensity beams of oxygen, argon, and carbon, the latter having huge importance for hadron therapy applications. Perspectives for further improvements, including double frequency heating, will also be highlighted.