Nonlinear interactions between electrons and RF waves in crossedelectric and magnetic fields

A laboratory experiment has been initiated to study nonlinear electron-wave interactions. In this experiment, the interaction between a guided RF wave and an electron beam is investigated using a large crossed field amplifier. The electron beam is injected through externally imposed crossed electric and magnetic fields. The large-amplitude RF wave is guided by a serpentine slow wave structure and travels at a phase velocity approximately equal to the average velocity of the electron beam. The formation of long-wavelength density structures has been proposed to affect the emission characteristics of the RF wave itself. Possible applications of the experiment in space plasmas are discussed