Controlling hollow relativistic electron beam orbits with an inductive current divider
- Naval Research Lab., Washington, D.C. (United States)
A passive method for controlling the trajectory of an intense, hollow electron beam is proposed using a vacuum structure that inductively splits the beam's return current. A central post carries a portion of the return current (I1), while the outer conductor carries the remainder (I2). An envelope equation appropriate for a hollow electron beam is derived and applied to the current divider. The force on the beam trajectory is shown to be proportional to (I2-I1), while the average force on the envelope (the beam width) is proportional to the beam current Ib = (I2 + I1). The values of I1 and I2 depend on the inductances in the return-current path geometries. Proper choice of the return-current geometries determines these inductances and offers control over the beam trajectory. As a result, solutions using realistic beam parameters show that, for appropriate choices of the return-current-path geometry, the inductive current divider can produce a beam that is both pinched and straightened so that it approaches a target at near-normal incidence with a beam diameter that is on the order of a few mm.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Science (NA-113)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1237363
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1421018
OSTI ID: 22408137
- Report Number(s):
- SAND--2015-0107J; 558381
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 22; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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