Effect of the self-field of an intense relativistic electron beam on its interaction with matter

The effect of the self-field of an intense relativistic electron beam on its interaction with a dense medium was studied by solving a system of equations consisting of the kinetic equation for the fast electrons, the hydrodynamic equations for the plasma electrons, and Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field. It was assumed that the macroscopic parameters of the medium (its density, conductivity, and electron collision frequency) were independent of time. The system of equations was solved using high-order perturbation theory. The results show that a magnetic field is formed by the beam of fast electrons and to an equal degree by a current of thermalized electrons, which has not been taken into account before. It is shown also that the magnetic field of the beam affects its transmission through matter. In particular, the penetration depth of the electrons in matter and the transverse dimensions of the beam are both smaller than in a weak-current beam.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshykh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 19–24, October, 1987.The author deeply thanks K. A. Dergobuzov for support of the work, and A. V. Arzhannikov, V. A. Klimenko, and A. V. Lapp for useful discussions.