https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2003-00260-0
Generation of high-current electron beams by a hollow cathode with a ferroelectric plasma source
Physics Department, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000 Haifa, Israel
Corresponding author: a fnkrasik@physics.technion.ac.il
Received:
10
December
2002
Revised:
10
April
2003
Published online:
12
August
2003
This paper presents results and analysis of an experimental investigation of the
operation of a hollow cathode (HC) with an incorporated ferroelectric plasma source
(FPS). It was shown that the use of FPS based on a BaTi solid solution allows one to
ignite and to sustain a 102–103 A HC discharge with duration of 10-3–10-5 s at
background pressure of ~ Pa while keeping the HC design with small
dimensions. It was found that the development of the HC discharge is accompanied
by formation at the surface of the FPS of dense plasma which serves as a powerful
(hundreds of kW) pulsed source of current carrying electrons. Parameters of the HC
plasma (radial distribution of the plasma density and temperature and plasma
potential) for different discharge current amplitudes and two types of FPS are
presented. Application of the FPS as an electron source in a diode under an
accelerating pulse ≤300 kV and pulse duration ≤400 ns showed that the latter
operates in a plasma pre-filled mode with a current amplitude up to 1.6 kA.
Parameters of the diode and electron beam for different experimental conditions are
presented and discussed.
PACS: 52.50.Dg – Plasma sources / 29.25.Bx – Electron sources / 52.25.Tx – Emission, absorption, and scattering of particles
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2003