Losses in a pulsed electron beam during its formation and extraction from the diode chamber of an accelerator

The results of experimental studies of the current and charge balance in the diode unit of the ?ЭpU-500 high-current pulsed electron accelerator (an accelerating voltage of 350–500 keV, a half-height pulse duration of 60 ns, and a total kinetic electron energy of 250 J/pulse) during generation of an electron beam are presented. Planar diodes with multipointed cathodes having diameters of 43–60 mm and manufactured from graphite, copper, and carbon felt were studied. It is shown that the electron-beam divergence in the anode-cathode gap caused by a distortion in the electric field at the periphery of the cathode is the main source of parasitic losses in planar diodes. The half-angle of divergence is 68° at small anode-cathode gaps and decreases to 60° with an increase in the gap. When the diode impedance is matched to the generator’s output impedance (at a gap of 10–12 mm), the charge loss is within 12%.     

The influence of a change in the electron trajectory in the vacuum-diode anode–cathode gap on the impedance

The analysis of the influence of the electron-trajectory curvature in the anode–cathode gap of a vacuum diode on its impedance during generation of high-current electron beams is performed, and the applicability of the one-dimensional Child–Langmuir formula for the electron-current calculation is evaluated. The results of an experimental study of a flat diode with explosive-emission graphite, copper, and carbon- fabric cathodes and also with a multipointed cathode are presented. These investigations were performed on the TEU-500 accelerator (350–500 kV, 60 ns). A strip diode with a graphite cathode was also studied in the mode of magnetic self-insulation of electrons. The experiments were performed on the TEMP-4М accelerators (150–200 kV, 400–600 ns). The investigation results showed that the satisfactory coincidence of the experimental values of the total current with those calculated from the one-dimensional Child–Langmuir formula (for the working area of the cathode) is observed in diodes not only in the absence of a change in the electron trajectory in the anode–cathode gap but also upon a deflection of the trajectory from the normal to the cathode surface by an angle of <90°. An increase in the electron current owing to a decrease in the anode–cathode gap and an increase in the emission area of the cathode during the cathode-plasma production and also at the expense of the presence of microirregularities on the cathode is properly described by the onedimensional Child-Langmuir formula, if the above factors are taken into account.     

Investigation of the homogeneity of a high-power ion beam formed by a diode with a closed electron drift

The results of an investigation of the energy-density distribution over the cross section of a pulsed ion beam formed with a passive-anode diode in the mode of magnetic insulation and a closed electron drift in the anode–cathode gap are presented. Diodes of two types are studied: with external magnetic insulation (B_r diode) on the BIPPAB-450 accelerator (400 kV, 80 ns) and self-magnetic insulation of electrons (spiral diode) on the TEMP-4M accelerator (250 kV, 120 ns). In the investigated diodes, various processes are used to form anode plasma: a breakdown over the surface of a dielectric coating on the anode and ionization of the anode surface with accelerated electrons (B_r diode), as well as explosive emission of electrons (spiral diode). To analyze the ion-beam energy density, thermal-imaging diagnostics is used with a spatial resolution of 1–2 mm. The energy-density is calculated from the one-dimensional Child–Langmuir relationship. It is shown that a continuous plasma layer is efficiently formed on the working anode surface for all the investigated diodes. The anode-plasma concentration is rather high, and the beam-energy density is limited by the space charge of ions, but not by the plasma concentration. It is found that, when the magnetic field in the Br-diode anode–cathode gap decreases or the electron current in the spiral diode increases, the energy density of the high-power ion beam rises significantly, but the beam homogeneity decreases.     

A Vacuum Diode for the Two-Sided Electron Irradiation of Objects

A vacuum diode for the two-sided electron irradiation of objects makes it possible to reduce the irradiation nonuniformity and increase the thickness of the irradiated layer of the object with a uniform distribution of the absorbed dose over the layer thickness. The cathode holder of the diode is constructed in the form of two symmetrical arms connected to a common current lead. Two cathodes are attached to the arms' ends opposite each other. The electron beam is extracted to the atmosphere through two windows–anodes positioned across from one another. The vacuum diode with metal–dielectric cathodes was tested on a -0.5 nanosecond electron accelerator (the electron energy is 0.5 MeV and the output beam power is 1 kW). The results obtained have shown that the diode ensures the two-sided irradiation of objects. Depending on the irradiated surface, the irradiation conditions can be varied by changing the cathode–anode distance in one of the arms of the diode.     

YPT-0.5 repetitive-pulse nanosecond electron accelerator

An YPT-0.5 repetive-pulse nanosecond electron accelerator designed according to the thyratron-pulse transformer-semiconductor opening switch scheme is described. Its accelerating voltage reaches 0.5 MV, the FWHM pulse duration is 50 ns, and the pulse repetition rate is 200 Hz. A metal-dielectric cathode allows for obtaining an electron beam with a diameter of 30–100 mm at a maximum pulse current density of 40 A/cm². Operating in the bremsstrahlung generator mode, the accelerator provides an absorbed dose rate of 30.4 Gy/min at a distance of 5 cm from the target.     

Angular dose variations from 320 kV rod pinch diode flash X-ray experiments on the modified Kali-1000 Pulsed Power System

This paper highlights the angular distribution of radiation dose emitted from a rod-pinch diode. The typical RP diode employed used a small diameter (1–2 mm) anode rod extended through a cathode aperture (5–8 mm). The diode chamber is maintained at 2 × 10^–5 Torr vacuum by a rotary backed diffusion pump. Experiments performed on a modified Kali-1000 Pulsed Power System (300 kV, 30 kA, 100 ns) were aimed at optimizing the source by maximizing the figure of merit (dose at 1 m in rad/spot diameter² in mm²) with minimizing of the diode impedance. The typical electron beam parameters used in the experiments are 240–320 kV, 6.5–27.5 kA, 100 ns, with a few hundreds of kA/cm² current density. The radiation emitted from a rod-pinch diode is measured using thermoluminescence dosimeters at an angular interval of 15° on either side of the rod in horizontal and vertical plane with different aspects ratio ranging from 2.5 to 10.0. Experimentally found that the radiation dose produced from the rod pinch diode configuration is maximum in the axial direction and decreases with angular variation on either side of the axis in horizontal and vertical planes, which indicates the directivity of the source. Maximum radiation dose at 1 m distance on the axial line is ranging from 42 to 307 mR.     

A series of tufted carbon fiber cathodes designed for different high power microwave sources

We report the fabrication technique of tufted carbon fiber cathodes for different microwave sources. Three carbon fiber cathodes were constructed, including a planar cathode, an annular cathode, and a cylindrical cathode for radial emission. Experimental investigations on these cathodes were performed in a reflex triode virtual cathode oscillator (vircator), a backward wave oscillator (BWO), and a magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator (MILO), respectively. The pulse duration of microwave emission from the reflex triode vircator was lengthened by using the planar carbon fiber cathode. In the BWO with the annular carbon fiber cathode, the uniform electron beam with a kA/cm(2) current density was observed. In addition, carbon fiber has great promise as field emitter for MILOs. These results show that the carbon fiber cathodes can be utilized for electron emission in high power diodes with different structures.     

Generation of electron beams with adjustable durations of 1.0–0.2 ns and current amplitudes more than 400 A

The conditions for forming subnanosecond electron beams with adjustable pulse durations in the vacuum-diode mode using a SLEP-150 generator were investigated. It was confirmed that the residual air pressure in the diode (～0.1 Torr or less) does not affect the amplitude and duration of the beam current when using a nanosecond voltage pulse. It was shown that increasing the air pressure in the diode from 0.1 to 6.0 Torr leads to a decrease in the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) duration of the electron-beam current from ～1.00 to 0.18 ns and a shorter delay of the beam generation moment relative to the voltage-pulse rise time. It was established that the amplitude of the first peak of the beam current behind the foil remained constant under these conditions. Its value was ≥400 A. It is shown that when the interelectrode gaps are optimal for vacuum diodes, the pulse duration at elevated pressures shortens due to the gap breakdown for a time of ≤200 ps.     

Characteristics of the Berkeley multicusp ion source

The performance of a cubical permanent magnet generated line-cusp ion source has been investigated for use with neutral beam injectors. This source has been operated with discharge currents greater than 500 A and ion current densities higher than 400 mA/cm2 at the extraction grid. The uniformity of the density profile across the extraction area is found to be dependent on the gas pressure. By using a fast Langmuir probe sweeping circuit, the electron temperature and the plasma density and potential have been analyzed for different discharge powers and gas pressures. The heat load on the plasma grid when it is electrically floating or connected to the negative cathode has been compared calorimetrically. The use of lanthanum hexaboride and impregnated oxide cathodes have been investigated for the purpose of long pulse operation. The phenomenon of mode flipping is found to occur quite frequently during a discharge with these magnetic-field-free cathodes. Species composition as a function of discharge power and chamber length is measured by a mass spectrometer.     

A Wide-Aperture,Low-Energy,and High-Current Electron Beam Source with a Plasma Anode Based on a Reflective Discharge

A source of low-energy (10–30 keV) high-current (up to 30-kA) electron beams efficiently and stably operating under conditions of oil-free vacuum has been developed. It is based on an electron gun with an explosive-emission cathode and a plasma anode, which is formed using a high-current reflective discharge. An external guide magnetic field ensures both discharge initiation and maintenance and beam transport. The source, the results of tests of it, and the experience of its operation are described. Methods for reducing the flow of erosion products ejected from the walls of the vacuum chamber to the processed target are proposed. The source is used in physical and technological studies of the modification of properties of surface material layers and for surface processing of articles.     

Ultraviolet stimulated electron source for use with low energy plasma instrument calibration

We have developed and demonstrated a versatile, compact electron source that can produce a mono-energetic electron beam up to 50 mm in diameter from 0.1 to 30 keV with an energy spread of <10 eV. By illuminating a metal cathode plate with a single near ultraviolet light emitting diode, a spatially uniform electron beam with 15% variation over 1 cm(2) can be generated. A uniform electric field in front of the cathode surface accelerates the electrons into a beam with an angular divergence of <1° at 1 keV. The beam intensity can be controlled from 10 to 10(9) electrons cm(-2) s(-1).     

Prototypes using metal, carbon fiber and composite field emission sources modulated by a laser beam.

Field emission of electrons from a variety of metallic, carbon fiber and composite metal-insulator micropoint cathodes was employed in this study. Tungsten, carbon fiber and ZrC tips, were studied using a field emission microscope. These cathodes were characterized and the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics were determined. A variety of surface treatment procedures were carried out to increase the stability of emission. These electron sources were mounted in sealed prototype field emission tubes, while others were tested under medium, high and UHV conditions. The emission current switch-on phenomenon was found with all non-metallic cathodes. The emitters were then subjected to a square wave-modulated, maximally focused laser diode beam (lambda = 658 nm, 30mW). The beam impedance (approximately 1 Gohms) and the anode capacitance (approximately 10 pF) act as a low-pass filter.     

Scanning with parallel transfer of an electron beam for a transverse profile monitor of an intense ion bunch

A method for fast parallel scanning of a low-energy electron beam (scan amplitude, ± 4 cm; scan time, 10 ns; beam energy, 60 keV) is described. Results of application of this method to nondestructive diagnostics of the proton bunch are presented.     

Recent progress of the improved magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator

The improved magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator (MILO) is a gigawatt-class L-band high power microwave tube driven by a 550 kV, 57 kA, 50 ns electron beam. It has allowed us to generate 2.4 GW pulse of 22 ns duration. The recent progress of the improved MILO is presented in this paper. First, a field shaper cathode is introduced into the improved MILO to avoid the cathode flares in the triple point region. The experimental results show that the cathode flares are avoided, so the lifetime of the velvet cathode is longer than that of the taper cathode. Furthermore, the shot-to-shot reproducibility is better than that of the taper cathode. Second, In order to prolong the pulse duration and increase the radiated microwave power, a self-built 600 kV, 10 Omega, 80 ns pulser: SPARK-03 is employed to drive the improved MILO. Simulation and experimental investigation are performed. In simulation, when the improved MILO is driven by a 600 kV, 57 kA electron beam, high-power microwave is generated with output power of 4.15 GW, frequency of 1.76 GHz, and relevant power conversion efficiency of 12.0%. In experiments, when the diode voltage is 550 kV and current is 54 kA, the measured results are that the radiated microwave power is above 3.1 GW, the pulse duration is above 40 ns, the microwave frequency is about 1.755 GHz, and the power conversion efficiency is about 10.4%.     

An ИЛТИ transportable high-power pulse X-ray radiation source

Characteristics of the ИЛТИ pulse (～50 ns) X-ray radiation generator with a boundary quantum energy of ～700 keV and a dose of ～1 R at 1 m from the target are presented. The ИЛТИ is intended for prompt checking of the response of the studied object at its location to the radiation effect at specified time moments at an ambient temperature from +40 to ?10°C and also for the x-ray radiographic monitoring (diameter of the beam focus is ～5 mm) of positions of an object’s parts behind an opaque shield. The jitter in delays of the source’s response times with respect to the start pulse is < ±30 ns. The ИЛТИ is based on an electron-beam accelerator with a pulse current of ～80 kA. A double forming line (DFL) with glycerin insulation serves as the energy storage and former of accelerating-voltage pulses. The DFL is charged from a six-stage Marx generator for 280 ns. The charging current of the DFL internal line passes through the resistance of the prepulse plasma formed in the volume of a strong-current electron diode between its specially shaped electrodes. In order to ensure ≥20 serial startups of the ИЛТИ without replacing anode and cathode parts, a backward diode with a massive anode and electron-beam pinching in the interelectrode gap was used. X rays are extracted into the air through a polyethylene window withstanding ≥200 source startups. The ИЛТИ has a modular demountable structure and, hence, can be quickly dismantled and moved to a new place. The ИЛТИ can be put into operation within ～2 h. Two ИЛТИs used for radiation studies since 1998 have demonstrated performance stability and ease of service.     

Nanosecond response 'gasket-type' magnetic loop current monitor for relativistic electron beam current measurements

A fast response magnetic loop current monitor has been developed to measure relativistic electron beam return currents. The monitor has a rise time of about a nanosecond and a high degree of symmetry with moderate sensitivity, variable from about 1 to 10 V/kA. This simple monitor, with a thickness of 0.254 mm or less, is thin enough to be placed between segments of return current path in the diode or drift tube regions, is insensitive to flashover, beam and plasma bombardment, and radiation effects, and measures net current, thus offering some advantages over conventional magnetic probes, since the main components are outside of the vacuum region. Design criteria, an equivalent circuit analysis, and typical calibration waveforms are presented. Experimental current measurements for a pinched electron beam diode configuration using both conventional magnetic probes and 'gasket-type'current monitors with the FX-75 relativistic electron beam accelerator are presented.     

A plasma cathode for a radio-frequency gun

A plasma ferroelectric cathode is used to form electron beams with a high pulse charge and a high charge in an electron bunch in an rf electron gun of a 10-cm wavelength range. The design of the cathode is described, and the results of calculations of the densities of the cathode-emitted and the gun-outputted currents are presented. The operation of the cathode in the rf gun was studied experimentally: the electron energy, the pulse current, and the transverse emittance of the beam were measured. The electron beam obtained at the output of the single-resonator gun had a pulse current of up to 10 A, a pulse duration of 60 ns, and an electron energy of ?500 keV. The normalized beam emittance was 40 mm mrad.     

A 400-keV X-ray generator with the pulse duration variable within 10–80 ns and an up to 70-Gy radiation dose

A high-power X-ray generator is created based on a universal setup for the experimental development of components of electrophysical installations (spark gaps, insulators, liquid resistors, etc.). The maximum energy of X-ray quanta is 400 keV, the pulse duration can be varied in steps from 10 to 80 ns, the radiation dose in the atmosphere near the exit window is ∼70 Gy, and the X-ray pulse is synchronized within ±15 ns with respect to the external trigger pulse. The key units of the setup are a shielded 600-kV Marx generator with a high-precision switching and a low-impedance high-voltage pulse former with a single or double coaxial line. The electric length of the lines can be increased by extending its body and conductors and by filling it with transformer oil, glycerin, or water. A design of the diode with a ∼70-kA radially converging ring electron beam and sidewall X-ray radiation release to the atmosphere through a thin dielectric window is presented. The dose characteristics and spectrum of the X-ray radiation are given.