Influence of the beam-forming conditions on the development of space-charge oscillations in a long-pulse relativistic electron beam

The characteristics of the space-charge oscillations of a long-pulse relativistic electron beam in magnetically insulated diodes are determined for different geometries of the electron acceleration section and for explosive-emission cathodes of different materials. The important role of the stream of electrons having high transverse velocities in the evolution of the oscillations is demonstrated, and the laws governing the generation of this stream are determined. Possible mechanisms of the space-charge oscillations are described, taking into account the interaction of the electron stream in the beam halo with the main electron stream, the development of diocotron instability in the stream of electrons emitted by the outer lateral surface of the plasma emitter, and the instability of the space charge of “long-lived” electrons in the beam transport channel. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 102–106 (April 1998)     

Temporal evolution of a long-pulse high-density electron beam

The temporal evolution of a long-pulse high-density electron beam in a high-power traveling-wave tube with a periodic magnetic focusing system is investigated. The relation between the variation of the characteristics of the electron beam and ionization of the residual gas and particles desorbed from the electrode surfaces is shown. A strong influence of the formation of the collector plasma and the flux of ions from its surface on the beam dynamics is revealed. The effect of microwave fields in the transport channel on the characteristics of the beam during its evolution is studied. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 54–58 (December 1997)     

Influence of nonuniformities of a magnetic-mirror field on the space-time characteristics of a long-pulse relativistic electron beam

An experimental investigation is made of the influence of local nonuniformities of a mirror-configuration magnetic field on oscillations of the space charge and the structure of a long-pulse relativistic electron beam. It is found that the outcome depends on the axial configuration of the nonuniformity. A nonuniformity near the cathode can substantially reduce the amplitude of the oscillations and improve the beam transport. The creation of a nonuniformity far from the cathode leads to an accelerated increase in the oscillations and causes spreading of the transverse structure of the beam. A possible explanation is given for the mechanism responsible for the influence of these local magnetic field nonuniformities assuming reflection of the cathode plasma and electron flux from the magnetic mirror, and also allowing for a jump in the drift velocity. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 83–88 (August 1997)     

Beam-plasma discharge in the propagation of a long-pulse relativistic electron beam in a medium-pressure rarefied gas

A theoretical model is given, along with a numerical analysis of the evolution of beam-plasma discharge in the propagation of a long-pulse relativistic electron beam in a rarefied gas at medium pressure. It is shown that the self-stabilization of beam-plasma discharge as a result of longitudinal inhomogeneity of the density of the discharge plasma makes it possible for the beam to traverse the beam chamber with relatively low total energy losses, including ionization losses and energy losses in the generation of oscillations. During the dissociative recombination of electrons and ions of the discharge-driven plasma, heat is released and spent in raising the temperature of the gas. The investigated collective-discharge mechanism underlying heating of the gas for a relativistic beam can be more efficient than the classical heating mechanism due to ionization losses of the beam in pair collisions of its electrons with gas particles. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 94–98 (May 1997)     

Transverse envelope dynamics of a 28.5-GeV electron beam in a long plasma

The transverse dynamics of a 28.5-GeV electron beam propagating in a 1.4 m long, (0-2)x10(14) cm(-3) plasma are studied experimentally in the underdense or blowout regime. The transverse component of the wake field excited by the short electron bunch focuses the bunch, which experiences multiple betatron oscillations as the plasma density is increased. The spot-size variations are observed using optical transition radiation and Cherenkov radiation. In this regime, the behavior of the spot size as a function of the plasma density is well described by a simple beam-envelope model. Dynamic changes of the beam envelope are observed by time resolving the Cherenkov light.     

The neutralization by ions and a type of oscillations of the electron beam

The neutralization factor is deduced for a partly compensated electron beam in a longitudinal magnetic field. The neutralization factor depends on macroscopic quantities and can be computed for a given configuration. This is used in the dispersion relation and the frequency of self-excited oscillations of the two-stream instability of rotating nonneutral electron-ion beam is found. This frequency modulates the electron beam current. The existence of such oscillations is proved experimentally and the used experimental technique is described.     

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.     

A long-pulse millimeter-wave free electron maser

An experimental free electron maser (FEM) facility is described which operates in the millimeter-wave regime. The experiment demonstrates that high gain and beam extraction efficiency can be obtained with low-current but high-quality electron beams. In the oscillator configuration, microwave powers of 110 kW were achieved with a 300-kV, 4-A beam, corresponding to a beam extraction efficiency of 9.2%. At low beam currents, with the system operating in the linear regime, the FEM gain curve was measured. The experiment uses a Pierce-type gun with a calculated beam emittance of 10.7-mm mrad at 300 kV and 4 A. The wiggler is of the iron permanent magnet hybrid design. The experiment is intended as a first step towards the development of continuous-wave (CW) devices that use beam energy recovery to make use of low-current, high-voltage power supplies     

Plasma channel formation in nitrogen upon electron beam injection

A theoretical study is performed of plasma channel formation and current neutralization upon injection of a high current electron beam into nitrogen under high pressure (p 70 torr). The complex ion formation and recombination mechanism is considered together with its effect on the parameters of the plasma formed and the dynamics of beam current neutralization. Analytical expressions are obtained for the densities of simple and complex ions in the limiting cases and numerical calculations are carried out by computer for a more general case. It is shown that in nitrogen at a pressure of 70 torr when complex ions are considered the plasma channel conductivity decreases by approximately 35–40%.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 59–65, December, 1990.     

Multivelocity electron beam as a source of microwave oscillations in the collector region of a traveling-wave tube

The generation of noise-like broadband oscillations in the collector system region of a traveling-wave tube (TWT) is investigated experimentally. Analysis of experimental results shows that noise-like broad-band oscillations are generated in the collector region of the TWT due to the injection of a multivelocity electron beam into it. It is found that the maximal integrated power output from the collector region of the TWT is 12 W, and the maximal frequency and generation band are f _max = 7 GHz and Δf/f ≈ 0.8, respectively. It is shown that a TWT with a collector-generator can simultaneously operate as an amplifier of an external signal and as a generator.     

Excitation of low-frequency oscillations via interaction of a high-current relativistic electron beam with a radial ion flux

The nonlinear excitation of low-frequency oscillations in the case when an ion flux is radially injected into the drift chamber where a tubular relativistic electron beam propagates is studied. A mechanism behind low-frequency ion oscillations is discussed.