Plasma Wakefield Effects On High-Current Relativistic Electron Beam Transport In The Ion-Focused Regime
Abstract
Modulation of the beam current has been observed during ion focused regime (IFR) transport of a high power relativistic electron beam propagating through a low-density background plasma. Injecting a high current, high energy electron beam into an IFR channel immersed in a background plasma induces plasma oscillations. These background plasma oscillations, induced by the risetime portion of the beam ejecting plasma electrons from the vicinity of the beam into the background plasma, give rise to a modulated axial electric field. This field travels with the beam leading to beam energy and current oscillations. In the experiment, a 1.7-MeV, 1-kA, risetime-sharpened electron beam is propagated on a KrF excimer laser produced IFR channel in TMA gas, which is immersed in a low density plasma filled transport tube. We present experimental measurements and computer simulations demonstrating modulation of this high current relativistic electron beam near the low density background plasma frequency.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA338876
Entities
People
- D. J. Weidman
- H. S. Uhm
- J. D. Miller
- Kimberly T. Nguyen
- R. F. Schneider
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory