Collective ion acceleration

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5118205· OSTI ID:5118205

Godfrey, B B; Faehl, R J; Newberger, B S; Shanahan, W R; Thode, L E

Progress achieved in the understanding and development of collective ion acceleration is presented. Extensive analytic and computational studies of slow cyclotron wave growth on an electron beam in a helix amplifier were performed. Research included precise determination of linear coupling between beam and helix, suppression of undesired transients and end effects, and two-dimensional simulations of wave growth in physically realizable systems. Electrostatic well depths produced exceed requirements for the Autoresonant Ion Acceleration feasibility experiment. Acceleration of test ions to modest energies in the troughs of such waves was also demonstrated. Smaller efforts were devoted to alternative acceleration mechanisms. Langmuir wave phase velocity in Converging Guide Acceleration was calculated as a function of the ratio of electron beam current to space-charge limiting current. A new collective acceleration approach, in which cyclotron wave phase velocity is varied by modulation of electron beam voltage, is proposed. Acceleration by traveling Virtual Cathode or Localized Pinch was considered, but appears less promising. In support of this research, fundamental investigations of beam propagation in evacuated waveguides, of nonneutral beam linear eigenmodes, and of beam stability were carried out. Several computer programs were developed or enhanced. Plans for future work are discussed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N.Mex. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5118205
• Report Number(s): LA-7148-PR
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
430200* -- Particle Accelerators-- Beam Dynamics
Field Calculations
& Ion Optics
ACCELERATORS
BEAM DYNAMICS
BEAMS
COLLECTIVE ACCELERATORS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
ELECTRON BEAMS
LEPTON BEAMS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PARTICLE BEAMS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
WAVE PROPAGATION