Installation and Commissioning of the Negative Ion Optimization Experiment

Negative ion sources are key components of the neutral beam injectors for thermonuclear fusion experiments. The NIO1 experiment is a radio frequency ion source generating a 60kV - 135mA hydr ogen negative ion beam. The beam is composed by 9 beamlets over an area of about 40 x 40 mm2. This experiment is jointly developed by Consorzio RFX and INFN - LNL, with the purpose of providing a test ion source, capable of working in continuous mode and in conditions similar the ones foreseen for the larger ion sources of the Neutral Beam Injectors for ITER. At present research and development activities address several important issues related to beam extraction, optics, and optimization; the modular design of the NIO1 experiment allows for quick replacement and upgrading of parts. This contribution presents the installation phases and the status of the experiment, the commissioning of the plant units, such as cooling system and power supplies, and of some d iagnostic devices, like the beam dump and spectroscopy. Examples of the first commissioning pulses will also be shown.