A 1-d computer simulation model of collective ion acceleration by linear electron beams. Technical report

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:6689803

Sternlieb, A; Ulm, H S

A 1-d electrostatic and relativistic particle code has been built in order to simulate a self-consistent way the time-dependent behavior of collective ion acceleration produced by linear electron beams injected into evacuated drift tubes. The simulation results agree with existing experimental and theoretical results by showing good current propagation and high ion energy gain in the presence of a well-localized plasma source at the e-beam injection boundary. Moreover, the simulations display an unexpected phenomenon, the appearance of short-lived regions of positive electrostatic potential (virtual anodes) which together with the usual virtual cathodes, contribute to the ion acceleration mechanism. In the absence of a suitable analytical theory, it seems to us that the present computer model is an indispensable tool for reliable explanation and optimization of present and future collective ion acceleration experiments. Use of our model in laser-plasma experiments in suggested.

• Research Organization: Maryland Univ., College Park (USA). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
• OSTI ID: 6689803
• Report Number(s): AD-A-087055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
430200* -- Particle Accelerators-- Beam Dynamics
Field Calculations
& Ion Optics
ACCELERATORS
BEAMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTROSTATICS
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
HEAVY IONS
IONS
LEPTON BEAMS
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
RELATIVITY THEORY
SIMULATION
TIME DEPENDENCE