Particle-in-cell simulations of electron beam control using an inductive current divider
Abstract
Kinetic, time-dependent, electromagnetic, particle-in-cell simulations of the inductive current divider are presented. The inductive current divider is a passive method for controlling the trajectory of an intense, hollow electron beam using a vacuum structure that inductively splits the beam’s return current. The current divider concept was proposed and studied theoretically in a previous publication [Phys. Plasmas 22, 023107 (2015)] A central post carries a portion of the return current (I1) while the outer conductor carries the remainder (I2) with the injected beam current given by Ib=I1+I2. The simulations are in agreement with the theory which predicts that the total force on the beam trajectory is proportional to (I2-I1) and the force on the beam envelope is proportional to Ib. For a fixed central post, the beam trajectory is controlled by varying the outer conductor radius which changes the inductance in the return-current path. The simulations show that the beam emittance is approximately constant as the beam propagates through the current divider to the target. As a result, independent control over both the current density and the beam angle at the target is possible by choosing the appropriate return-current geometry.
- Authors:
-
- Naval Research Lab. (NRL), Washington, DC (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Science (NA-113)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1238584
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2015-7836J
Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X; PHPAEN; 603700
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Physics of Plasmas
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 22; Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; surface charge; double layers; current density; anodes; cathodes
Citation Formats
Swanekamp, S. B., Angus, J. R., Cooperstein, G., Ottinger, P. F., Richardson, A. S., Schumer, J. W., and Weber, B. V.. Particle-in-cell simulations of electron beam control using an inductive current divider. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1063/1.4935893.
Swanekamp, S. B., Angus, J. R., Cooperstein, G., Ottinger, P. F., Richardson, A. S., Schumer, J. W., & Weber, B. V.. Particle-in-cell simulations of electron beam control using an inductive current divider. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935893
Swanekamp, S. B., Angus, J. R., Cooperstein, G., Ottinger, P. F., Richardson, A. S., Schumer, J. W., and Weber, B. V.. Wed .
"Particle-in-cell simulations of electron beam control using an inductive current divider". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935893. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1238584.
@article{osti_1238584,
title = {Particle-in-cell simulations of electron beam control using an inductive current divider},
author = {Swanekamp, S. B. and Angus, J. R. and Cooperstein, G. and Ottinger, P. F. and Richardson, A. S. and Schumer, J. W. and Weber, B. V.},
abstractNote = {Kinetic, time-dependent, electromagnetic, particle-in-cell simulations of the inductive current divider are presented. The inductive current divider is a passive method for controlling the trajectory of an intense, hollow electron beam using a vacuum structure that inductively splits the beam’s return current. The current divider concept was proposed and studied theoretically in a previous publication [Phys. Plasmas 22, 023107 (2015)] A central post carries a portion of the return current (I1) while the outer conductor carries the remainder (I2) with the injected beam current given by Ib=I1+I2. The simulations are in agreement with the theory which predicts that the total force on the beam trajectory is proportional to (I2-I1) and the force on the beam envelope is proportional to Ib. For a fixed central post, the beam trajectory is controlled by varying the outer conductor radius which changes the inductance in the return-current path. The simulations show that the beam emittance is approximately constant as the beam propagates through the current divider to the target. As a result, independent control over both the current density and the beam angle at the target is possible by choosing the appropriate return-current geometry.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4935893},
journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
number = 11,
volume = 22,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {11}
}
Web of Science