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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Beam front accelerators

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5555384
An intense relativistic electron beam cannot propagate in a metal drift tube when the current exceeds the space charge limit. Very high charge density and electric field gradients (10/sup 2/ to 10/sup 3/ MV/m) develop at the beam front and the electrons are reflected. When a neutral gas or a plasma is present, collective acceleration of positive ions occur, and the resulting charge neutralization enables the beam to propagate. Experimental results, theoretical understanding, and schemes to achieve high ion energies by external control of the beam front velocity will be reviewed.
Research Organization:
Maryland Univ., College Park (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AS05-78ER05940
OSTI ID:
5555384
Report Number(s):
CONF-820980-8; ON: DE84003709
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English