High current electron beam generation in a vacuum transient hollow cathode discharge

Journal Article · Tue Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1993 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.256799· OSTI ID:142420

Chuaqui, H; Favre, M; Soto, L; Wyndham, E S ^[1]

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1. Pontifia Univ. Catolica de Chile, Santiago (Chile). Facultad de Fisica

Experimental observations are presented of prebreakdown electron beam generation in a Transient Hollow Cathode Discharge (THCD) in a vacuum. The discharge driver consists of a 400 kV maximum voltage, 25 nF Marx operated at 450 J stored energy coupled to a 120 ns, 1.5 {Omega} coaxial line. Electron beams with peak currents up to tens of kA are observed when a pulsed Nd-YAG laser is used to produce a plasma at the back of the cathode surface, inside the Hollow Cathode Region (HCR). It is found that a plasma density of a few 10{sup 18} cm{sup {minus}3} in a volume of a few mm{sup 3} is required to generate intense electron beams. Optimal conditions are determined by varying the position of the laser focal spot inside the HCR and the time delay between the laser and the applied voltage. The main features of the electron beams are similar to those observed in conventional THCD at pressures in the 10--200 mtorr range.

• OSTI ID: 142420
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 21; ISSN ITPSBD; ISSN 0093-3813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
BEAM CURRENTS
BEAM PRODUCTION
ELECTRON BEAMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA