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Dynamic disruption of charge neutrality in a positive ion beam in the absence of a magnetic field

Journal Article · · Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:6329589
A mechanism for the dynamic disruption of charge neutrality of a positive ion beam propagated without external fields is studied. Dynamic disruption of charge neutrality is observed when the beam modulation frequency satisfies f>v/sub +/n/sub ..cap alpha../sigma/sub e//2..cap alpha.., where v/sub +/ is the velocity of the beam ions, n/sub ..cap alpha../ is the density of atoms, sigma/sub e/ is the cross section for electron production, and ..cap alpha.. is the modulation index. There are two physical situations which differ in the length of the space-charge, lambda: 1) If lambda = v/sub +//f>L (L is the length of the beam), then the trapping of electrons by the field of the space-charge wave does not play any important role. The minimum radial potential drop in the beam, phi/sub min/, and the potential drop in a steady-state beam are determined by Coulomb collisions, while the variable potential is determined completely by the unneutralized variable beam space charge; i. e., phi
Research Organization:
Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR
OSTI ID:
6329589
Journal Information:
Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 6:4; ISSN SJPPD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English