Producing a magnetized low energy, high electron charge density state using a split cathode

Abstract

When a magnetized annular relativistic electron beam propagating in a conducting tube carries a charge higher than the space charge limit, it can stabilize at a lower energy and higher density state. Such a charge distribution can be used as an electron source in high power microwave devices, a relativistic magnetron in particular, and in other applications. The limiting current transmitted by the beam decreases in tubes with larger radii, so in a tube with a radial transition from a small to large radius, the current can over-inject the downstream tube. This can start a dynamical process which stabilizes as a high density state. The same effect can be achieved by increasing the magnetic field in a magnetic mirror-like scheme or by adding a slowing down potential in the electron beam's route. Here, we propose a simpler, more practical way to produce such a dense state by splitting the cathode into an emitter and a reflector. This scheme is tested in simulation and experiment.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2020
Source ID
10.1063/5.0022115

Entities

People

  • Edl Schamiloglu
  • J. G. Leopold
  • Ya E Krasik
  • Yu. P. Bliokh

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Office of Naval Research
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
  • University of New Mexico

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster