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Control of gigawatt REB pulse duration using gas injection

Journal Article · · IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.16547· OSTI ID:6532181
;  [1]
  1. Plasma Physics Div., Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Trombay, Bombay 400 085 (IN)

A technique for controlling the voltage and current pulse duration of a gigawatt relativistic electron beam (REB) has been investigated. Pulse duration of a beam of 250 keV and 10 kA has been controlled from 60 ns to 10 ns by injecting gases (air, argon, and hydrogen) into the diode gap at a pressure rho ranging from 10/sup -5/ torr to 10/sup -1/ torr. The observed dependence of the pulse duration on the nature and pressure of the gas is explained in terms of volume ionization of the gas by beam electrons. It is concluded that the pulse duration is governed by the time at which the plasma density created by the beam reaches a critical value eta/sub c/ of the order of beam electron number density.

OSTI ID:
6532181
Journal Information:
IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States) Vol. 16:6; ISSN ITPSB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English