On the transverse dispersion of a relativistic electron beam in the evolution of ion hose instability in the ion focusing regime

We investigate the transverse expansion of a relativistic electron beam propagating in a rarefied gas-plasma medium in the ion focusing regime during the development of ion hose instability. The expression is constructed for the pinch potential of the beam as a function of the amplitude of transverse deviation of the beam and on the parameter characterizing the ratio of the characteristic radial scales of the ion channel and of the electron beam. It is shown that this potential becomes substantially lower upon an increase in the hose oscillation amplitude and when the ion channel expands relative to the transverse size of the beam cross section.     

Laser-driven relativistic electron dynamics in a cylindrical plasma channel

The energy and trajectory of the electron, which is irradiated by a high-power laser pulse in a cylindrical plasma channel with a uniform positive charge and a uniform negative current, have been analyzed in terms of a single-electron model of direct laser acceleration. We find that the energy and trajectory of the electron strongly depend on the positive charge density, the negative current density, and the intensity of the laser pulse. The electron can be accelerated significantly only when the positive charge density, the negative current density, and the intensity of the laser pulse are in suitable ranges due to the dephasing rate between the wave and electron motion. Particularly, when their values satisfy a critical condition,the electron can stay in phase with the laser and gain the largest energy from the laser. With the enhancement of the electron energy, strong modulations of the relativistic factor cause a considerable enhancement of the electron transverse oscillations across the channel, which makes the electron trajectory become essentially three-dimensional, even if it is flat at the early stage of the acceleration.     

Effect of a conducting waveguide on the dynamics of ion hose instability of a relativistic electron beam propagating in the ion focusing regime

We analyze the effect of a conducting waveguide on the dynamics of the ion hose instability of a relativistic electron beam propagating in a rarefied gas-plasma medium in the ion focusing regime. It is shown using the linear theory of the instability under investigation that a decrease in the waveguide radius noticeably stabilizes the ion hose instability. In addition, it is noted that radial narrowing of the ion channel relative to the beam considerably decreases the amplitude of hose oscillations.     

Determination of the final equilibrium radius of a relativistic electron beam mismatched to the equilibrium conditions in transportation in the ion focusing regime

We derive the equation connecting the final equilibrium radius of a paraxial azimuth-symmetrical relativistic electron beam propagating in the ion focusing regime with its initial nonequilibrium value. The dependence of the final equilibrium radius and the increment of the rms emittance on the density of the scattering background medium is analyzed.     

Large-scale resistive instability of a relativistic electron beam in a plasma channel

The kinetic equation method is used to study the stability of a heavy-current electron beam in a dense plasma channel with a relatively low conductivity. Increments and critical currents are obtained. It is shown that even slightly nonlinear transverse motion stabilizes the system. The main conclusions agree with the experimental results.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 84–89, April, 1986.     

Effect of the current rise rate in a relativistic electron beam pulse propagating in the ion focusing regime on the dynamics of ion hose instability

The effect of the current rise rate in a relativistic electron beam pulse propagating in the ion focusing regime on the spatial dynamics of the ion hose instability is considered. Numerical analysis of the formulated equations shows that the lower rate of current rise in the beam pulse at the linear stage of evolution of the instability noticeably reduces the amplitude of hose oscillations.     

Generalization of the Bennett equilibrium condition for a relativistic electron beam propagating in the Ohmic plasma channel and ion focusing regime along an external magnetic field

The problem of formulating the generalization of the Bennett equilibrium condition is considered for a relativistic electron beam propagating in the Ohmic plasma channel, as well as in the ion focusing regime in the presence of an external longitudinal uniform magnetic field. We assume that the electron component of the background plasma is not completely removed from the region occupied by the beam. This equilibrium condition is derived using the mass and momentum transport equations obtained for a paraxial monoenergetic beam from the Fokker–Planck kinetic equation.     

A planar relativistic electron beam in a plasma channel bounded by conducting walls

The force interaction of a relativistic electron beam with a plasma in a channel bounded by planegeometry highly conducting walls is studied. The steady-state interaction regime, ω=ku, is analyzed using the model of a cold collisional electron plasma. The formulas for the transverse component of the force acting on the beam electrons are derived for an arbitrary deviation of the beam from the symmetry plane of the channel.     

Effect of the periodic ion density channel on the behavior of the ion hose instability of a relativistic electron beam

The dynamics of a relativistic electron beam propagating in an ion channel with a periodically varying density is considered. The behavior of the ion hose instability at different parameters of the beam-ion channel system is studied using the spread mass model. Conditions are determined under which the ion hose instability does not hinder the beam propagation over distances on the order of 100 betatron lengths of the beam.     

Mathematical simulations of the development of the ion hose instability of a relativistic electron beam in a plasma channel with a varying density

The effect of different parameters of a plasma channel with an increasing or a decreasing density on the onset and behavior of the ion hose instability is investigated using the distributed-mass model.     

Simulation of the dynamics of resistive hose instability of a relativistic electron beam propagating in a resistive plasma channel with arbitrary conductivity

The spatial dynamics of the resistive hose instability of a relativistic electron beam has been studied for the case when the charge neutralization time is much longer, on the order of, or much shorter than the current compensation time. It has been found that the growth of this instability has the highest increment when the charge neutralization time is on the order of skin time.

     

Anomalous scattering of a relativistic electron beam in a beam created plasma

Measurements of the velocity angular distribution of a relativistic electron beam (0.8 MV, 6 kA, 150 ns) after propagation through hydrogen gas are presented. At a pressure of 25 Pa scattering of the beam electrons into a preferential angular interval is observed. At 190 Pa anomalously large scattering is observed, up to an angular width of 90°, during about 30 ns.     

Calculation of the interaction force between a relativistic electron beam and an Ohmic plasma channel

A formula for calculating the interaction force between a relativistic electron beam and a preformed Ohmic plasma channel with an arbitrary offset of the channel axis from the beam axis is obtained in the case of complete charge neutralization. It is shown that this force is repulsive for radial profiles of the conductivity with a peak on the channel axis. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 69–76 (June 1997)     

Calculation of force exerted by the Ohmic plasma channel on a relativistic electron beam propagating in a dense gas-plasma medium

The problem on the interaction of an Ohmic plasma channel displaced in the transverse direction with a paraxial azimuthally symmetric relativistic electron beam propagating in a dense gas-plasma medium is considered. The formula for determining the force of the beam-plasma interaction is derived using the “hard” model of the beam and the channel in the case of an arbitrary displacement of the symmetry axis of the plasma channel relative to the corresponding axis of the beam. The forces are calculated in the Bennett and Gauss approximations for the radial profiles of the beam and the channel.     

Transverse dynamics of a low-density relativistic electron beam propagating in the plasma along an external magnetic field

It is shown that a low-density relativistic electron beam can be transported under conditions of (i) periodic oscillation of the beam radius, (ii) unlimited beam expansion, and (ii) pinching. Analytical expressions for the radial evolution of the beam under these transport condition are obtained.     

Parametric instabilities produced by a relativistic electron beam in a plasma

The parametric instability driven by the primary spectrum of the hydrodynamic two-stream instability produced by a relativistic electron beam in a plasma is investigated. The saturated level of the primary wave electric field is determined by electron trapping in the potential well of the wave or by the quasilinear beam relaxation process. After saturation, the primary wave collapses by way of the oscillating two-stream instability. The cases of the strong and weak primary electric field in comparison with the thermal energy of a plasma are considered. For a strong field the growth rates of the parametric instability and plasma heating due to the latter are found. Ion heating is not significant in comparison with electron heating (approximately as the cube root of the mass ratio). In a weak field the parametric oscillating two-stream spectrum of saturation is found. In the one-dimensional case this spectrum of electric field energy fluctuations varies as k⁻² if the fluctuation field exceeds the threshold pump electric field for the oscillating two-stream instability. For the weak field plasma heating rate is found. Since the energy transfer is via Landau damping, the particle heating is characterized by the formation of high-energy tails on the distribution function.     

Effect of the parameters of the plasma channel produced by a high-current relativistic electron beam in dense gaseous media on the beam transportation stability

Results are presented from experimental studies of the time evolution of the plasma channel produced by a high-current electron beam (with an electron energy of E _e = 1.1 MeV, a beam current of I _b = 24 kA, and a pulse duration of t = 60 ns) in helium, nitrogen, neon, air, argon, krypton, xenon, and humid air (air: H₂O) at pressures from 1 to 760 Torr. It is shown that, in gases characterized by a small ratio of the collision frequency to the gas ionization rate u _i , the electron beam produces a broad high-conductivity plasma channel, such that R _b/R _p < 1, where R _b and R _p are the beam and channel radii, respectively. As a result, large-scale resistive hose instability is suppressed.