Observations of collective ion acceleration with drifting intense relativistic electron beams
In this paper we report several observations related to the acceleration of positive ions when an intense relativistic electron beam is injected into a low-pressure neutral gas. In addition to varying the type and pressure of the neutral gas, we have varied a number of geometrical parameters including the radius of both the beam and the guide tube, the length of the guide tube (endplate effects), and dielectric constant of the guide tube. We find that ion acceleration occurs only if the peak electron-beam current I/sub 0/ exceeds the space-charge-limiting current, I/subl//sub 0/, for the cavity. Maximum average ion energies are obtained when I/sub 0//I/subl//sub 0/approximately-greater-than3: the ion (proton) energy spectrum is rather broad with the spectrum peak occurring at 3/2E/sube/, and the maximum energy cutoff at approximately 3E/sube/, where E/sube/ is the electron-beam kinetic energy. (AIP)
- Research Organization:
- Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117
- OSTI ID:
- 7282280
- Journal Information:
- J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 47:5; ISSN JAPIA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Beams & their Reactions
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
BEAM INJECTION
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
BEAMS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRON BEAM INJECTION
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
GASES
ION BEAMS
ION SOURCES
IONIZATION
IONIZED GASES
IONS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SPECTRA