Numerical simulation of the extraction of ions from a magnetized plasma

The extraction of ions from a magnetized plasma in laser isotope separation systems is analyzed using one-dimensional, time-dependent equations of two-fluid magnetohydrodynamics. It is suggested that electron emission from the cathode may be used to compensate for the ion space charge which limits the rate of extraction. It is shown that at an accelerating voltage of 25 V and an emission current of 2.5 mA/cm², a plasma with a density of 10¹¹ cm^?3 is accelerated to a velocity of 1.5×10⁵ cm/s in 3 µs. In this case, the maximum temperature of the plasma electron component does not exceed 1.5 eV.