December 24, 1959

Or. Edward Ginzton
Hansen Laborator les
Stanford University
Stanford, Californle

Dear Ed:

Further to our discussion of syndifonic beams (l.e. clusters of alter-
nating charge) In the accelerator. Since last March, | had not given very
much thought to this, since It Is so far from my matin Interests, but after
our discussion | was moved to look more closely at the literature on nega-
tive tons. The outlook for eseful sources of such fons may be brighter
than | had previously thought.

1) Enclosed Is one explicit, though roundabout, approach to a alxture
of Cs* and 1”. The compl Jcation Is perhaps s}ightly mitigated by having to
accelerate a Cs* beam in any case.

2) Resonant capture of electrons may figure prominently. Hickam and
Berg, J. Chem. Physics 29: 517, 1958 refer to the formation of F’, SFg~ and
Fa tons through the capture of ~ .1 volt electrons In SF-. The relative
ylelds depend quite a bit on temperature, energy spectrum and other gases
In the mix. One might be fortunate In the balance that Cs) = XBEXPXy 1353; «
SF. e 127. I” has also been described as arising by ébctron Impact of to+ @

These references suggest sufficient groundwork to test some of the basic merits
of @ syndilonic beam.

3) I would also revert to the more fancl ful Suggestion of exposing an
(7? orlented)crystal to high Intensity microwave flelds, with the alm of dislodgéng

alternate groups of fons for further acceleration. These would correspond to

the field currents from metals. The work function from, say Csi crystals, Is
perhaps very high, and it might be worth looking for catelysts to reduce this.
Bo you know of any experimental work looking for such currents? (Since the
characteristic frequency may be In the tenth-ml1] imeter range, we may be asking
questions about the generation of power In the most difficult regton. )

With best wishes for the season,
Yours cordially,

Joshua Lederberg

Enc: p- 77 from Massey, Negative fons, Cambridge, 1950.