Propagation of Low-Gamma Ion Beams -- The Resistive Hose Instability,
Abstract
In this report on the propagation of low-gamma ion beams, we explore the resistive hose instability with longitudinal velocity-spread. For energies of interest, the theoretical models of electron beam propagation, cannot be directly applied to ions because of their low relativistic gamma (gamma) factors. For example, for kinetic energy equal to 50 MeV, gamma is = to or about 99. for electrons compared to gamma is = to or about 1.05 for protons. If the beam propagates in the longitudinal direction (along the z-axis), the effective inertial mass of the beam particles in the z-direction is given approximately by gamma 3 cubed m, where m is the particle rest mass. This suggests that light ions are considerably more susceptible to longitudinal acceleration than electrons of equivalent kinetic energy; the longitudinal particle-motion cannot be ignored as in the electron case. This adds a new dimension to ion beam propagation. The consequences of the longitudinal motion on beam stability can divided into three categories: (1) Longitudinal spreading of the beam pulse due to longitudinal velocity-spread (longitudinal temperature); (2) Longitudinal mass (bunching) instability; and (3) Resistive hose instability with longitudinal velocity spread.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 30, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA097941
Entities
People
- R. Leon Feinstein