Experiments on insulation of relativistic electron flows in oblique and tapered magnetic fields

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5154556

Mendel, Jr, C W; Quintenz, J P; Rosenthal, S E; Seidel, D B; Coats, R; Savage, M E

Several experiments on magnetically insulated electron flows will be reported. These include experiments in combined axial and azimuthal magnetic fields like those seen in powerful ion diodes, and flows in which the degree of insulation is changed along the flow path. Conservation of transverse electron canonical momentum implies that the flows cannot be exactly in the ExB direction. Measurements of the field pitch (the ratio of the axial to the azimuthal magnetic field) show a tendency to flow in the ExB direction with very little current along the magnetic field. However, it was also found that the flow tended to find an equilibrium where electrons in ExB flow have only small transverse canonical momentum. Other data show a surprising degree of electron recapture at the cathode under some conditions. This has important implications for multi-terrawatt devices. 4 refs., 7 figs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5154556
• Report Number(s): SAND-88-0026C; CONF-880687-1; ON: DE88007199
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

657002* -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Classical & Quantum Mechanics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CATHODES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON DRIFT
ENERGY RANGE
LINEAR MOMENTUM
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC INSULATION
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SPACE CHARGE
TRANSVERSE MOMENTUM