Method and apparatus for charged particle propagation
A method and apparatus are provided for propagating charged particles from a vacuum to a higher pressure region. A generator includes an evacuated chamber having a gun for discharging a beam of charged particles such as an electron beam or ion beam. The beam is discharged through a beam exit in the chamber into a higher pressure region. A plasma interface is disposed at the beam exit and includes a plasma channel for bounding a plasma maintainable between a cathode and an anode disposed at opposite ends thereof. The plasma channel is coaxially aligned with the beam exit for propagating the beam from the chamber, through the plasma, and into the higher pressure region. The plasma is effective for pumping down the beam exit for preventing pressure increase in the chamber and provides magnetic focusing of the beam discharged into the higher pressure region 24. 7 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Associated Universities Inc
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- Assignee:
- Associated Universities, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5,578,831/A/
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-409,148; TRN: 97:000140
- OSTI ID:
- 403663
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 26 Nov 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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